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Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide (ISSN 1096-74001 No. 437/July-September 2004.
Contents
Created for Community—June
26—July 2
6
2
"Honor Your Father and Your Mother"—July
3 9
14
3
Parenthood—Joys and Responsibilities—July
10-16
22
4
Marriage Is Not Out-of-Date—Ju/y
17 23
30
5
Friendship—July
24-30
38
6
Religion in the Workplace—July
31—August 6
46
7
Respect for Authorities—August
7-13
56
8
Christ's Other
Sheep—August 14-20
64
9
How to Relate to Non-Christians—August
21 27
72
10
Loving Our
Enemies?—August 28—September 3
80
11
Brothers and Sisters in the
Faith—September 4-10
88
1 2
Supporting Our
Leaders—September 11-17
96
13
Embracing the
World—September 18-24
104
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Principal Contributor
Reinder Bruinsma
Editor
Clifford R. Goldstein
Associate Editor
Lyndelle Brower Chiomenti
Publication Manager
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Editorial Assistant
Larie S. Gray
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The
Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide
is prepared by the Office of the Adult Bible
Study Guide of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The preparation of the
guides is under the general direction of the Sabbath School Publications Board, a sub-
committee of the General Conference Administrative Commitee (ADCOM), publisher of the
Bible Study Guides. The published guide reflects the input of worldwide evaluation com-
mittees and the approval of the Sabbath School Publications Board and thus does not
solely or necessarily represent the intent of the author(s).
INTRODUCTION
Religion in Relationships
Life is lived in relationships. Some are deep-rooted, others
superficial; some are of short duration, others last a life-
time. Some are purely functional, others intensely personal.
We relate to all kinds of people: to a partner, to children, to relatives,
to friends and neighbors but also to the service-station attendant, to
the person with whom we share a shift at work, and to the police offi-
cer who stops us for speeding. And we relate to our pastor, to the
superintendent of the school in which we have enrolled our children,
to our employer, and, yes, to the tax collector.
All this is true for Christians, as well as for non-Christians. The
difference between us and our non-Christian counterparts is not that
we live in multiple relationships but that there is an important extra
dimension to those relationships: our religion.
As Seventh-day Adventists, we believe in a set of doctrines. Some
we share with other Christians; some are unique to us and help mark
us as a
special
people with a unique message and mission. Doctrines
are not optional, not if our faith is going to be more than a shallow
feeling or a vague awareness of some greater power or transcendent
force that somehow relates to us. Doctrines rendered into words—as
best as can be expressed within the confines of human language—
reveal how we understand the divine self-revelation of God. They help
us achieve a clearer sense of who and what God (as Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit) is and what He has done, is doing, and will ultimately do
for us as individuals and as a race. We need doctrines to grasp what
the implications of our belief in God and His plan of salvation are for
our perspective on life and for our daily conduct.
But Christianity—and most definitely Adventist Christianity—is
more than a catalog of doctrinal statements. The Christian God is
not a distant, impersonal deity who does not get involved in the
daily grind of this world and of our existence. Instead, He is a per-
sonal God of love who has encountered us in Jesus Christ, in the
most personal way possible.
God is a covenant God, One who goes out of His way to establish
a close relationship, One who is Love Personified, and One who
seeks for a reaction to that love—a response of worship, obedience,
and love. Once we have established a relationship with God (or,
2
more correctly, once we have allowed God to establish a relationship
with us), this affects every other relationship we may have.
Once we have gained a glimpse of who and what God is, once we
have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Savior and have welcomed the
Spirit as our Guide on our pilgrimage through life, we are able to look
at the world from a new perspective. No longer is it of prime impor-
tance whether or not the peo-
ple with whom we associate
A religion that
are of the same nationality or
does not permeate
ethnicity or of the same polit-
ical persuasion as we are. The
daily life is dead
first question we will ask
and meaningless.
about the people with whom
we come in contact is whether they already share with us the knowl-
edge of the good news!
Religion is not work based—in other words, our standing with
God does not depend on our achievements. We live by faith through
grace. Yet, a religion that does not permeate our daily lives is a dead
and meaningless exercise
(James 2:17).
If our relationship with God
does not impact our relationships with fellow humans, we have
every reason to wonder whether this bond with God is a reality.
This quarter we will study numerous passages of Scripture with
the intention of increasing our awareness of the ways by which our
faith impacts our relationship to others—to those who are close to
us and those who are afar. We will discuss how we can strengthen
those relationships, even restore them if they have somehow broken
down. We will discover that, indeed, there is more religion in rela-
tionships than many may suspect.
This quarter's
Adult Bible Study Guide
was written by Reinder
Bruinsma, a native Dutchman and longtime church worker (includ-
ing six years, from 1995-2001, as executive secretary of the Trans-
European Division). He is also the author of 15 books in both
English and Dutch. In 2001, he returned to his native Netherlands,
where he serves as the president of the Netherlands Union. His pas-
toral concern about practical Christianity, about how we treat others,
comes through in every lesson this quarter.
3
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1014
N
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LESSON 1
*June 26—July 2
Created
for
Community
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Week's Study:
Exod. 20:2-17, Isa. 1:10-
17, 1 Corinthians 13.
Memory Text:
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love
comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and
knows God"
(1 John 4:7, NIV).
I
n
today's world, many people are utterly lonely; they live without
meaningful relationships, without a sense of being needed or
loved, without a sense of true belonging. Some are married, even
have children; yet, in their deepest self, they feel alone. Others appear
to have an intense social life but would, nonetheless, in a moment of
honest self-assessment, admit to desperate loneliness. Many who
share their apartment block with dozens of others and mingle every
day with thousands in the metro or the commuter train are incapable
of reaching out to those around them.
And, yet, amid all this loneliness is the biblical ideal, which is that
we live in community with others—with family, friends, colleagues,
authorities, fellow church members, et cetera. The question is, How
does God want us to do it?
This week we begin our look at the answers.
The Week at a Glance:
What does the Creation account
teach us about community? What principles should guide our
interaction with others? What does the Bible teach us about love?
What did Jesus mean when He talked about us hating our parents?
What role does the Cross play in our relationship with others?
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 3.
6
SUNDAY
June 27
" 'It Is Not Good for the Man to Be
Alone' "
(Gen. 2:18, NIV).
The first two chapters of the book of Genesis give us a glimpse of
what happened when God created our world. Though much about
Creation remains a mystery, all the essential elements we need in
order to build a Christian worldview are, nevertheless, revealed there,
including the truth that God created humans to be social beings, des-
tined to live in a community.
How does
the Creation account emphasize that full human life is
experienced in relating to other human beings?
Gen. 1:28; 2:18-
25; 4:1, 2.
It clearly was part of God's original purpose that human beings
would exist in relationship with others. The idea of family—of a part-
nership between a man and a woman and of a bond between parents
and children—was part of the original fabric of Creation. Belonging
together in a marriage relationship, and as family, is not one option
among many but reflects the original and unchanging design for
human happiness. This is not to say a single person cannot live a
happy and fulfilling life, but it underlines that, from a biblical per-
spective, the family is the fundamental building block of a healthy
society.
"A family is not a spill-over from our romantic passions, nor a
product of society's requirements that parents provide their offspring
with bed and board, nor a little circle of people deriving emotional
support from living together. . . . Family is rooted in the Creator's
design for the ongoing nurture of children who bring faith and moral
value into the next generation. To undermine, neglect, or replace it is
to wreck the core community that makes all other community possi-
ble."—Lewis B. Smedes,
Mere Morality: What God Expects From
Ordinary People
(Grand Rapids, Mich.: W. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.,
1983), p. 81.
One of the most famous lines in all English literature reads, "No
man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the con-
tinent, a part of the main." The point being that we are all
involved with one another, to one degree or another. What does
this tell us about how careful we need to be regarding the influ-
ence we exert? Make no mistake about it: We all exert an influ-
ence on others, either for good or for bad.
7
MONDAY
June 28
Religion Has Social Dimensions
(Exod.
20:2-17, Matt. 7:12)
.
However much our faith rests upon our relationship to God, it can-
not be separated from our relationship to others. We live in this world
with other people, and our religion very clearly dictates how we are to
relate to these other people.
As Seventh-day Adventists, we tend to divide the Ten
Commandments into two parts, the first four dealing with our
relationship to God, the last six with our relationship to others.
Read the first four commandments again
(Exod. 20:2-11).
How
does our obedience, or disobedience, to even these specific com-
mandments impact others?
At times, Christians have so emphasized the social aspects of their
religion that they have reduced the gospel of Christ to a
horizontal
"social gospel," which leaves little or no place for the
vertical
aspect
of religion: the relationship between us and our heavenly Father
through our Lord Jesus Christ. When that happens, our religion has
ceased to be Christian. But, at the same time, our faith in God must
impact also our relationships with other human beings; otherwise,
our religion, likewise, cannot be characterized as truly Christian.
Look up
the following texts. What do they tell us about the social
aspects of our faith?
Lev. 19:18
Isa. 1:10-17
Hos. 6:6
Matt. 7:12
James 1:27
Summarize in a paragraph the essence of what those texts above
are saying; then ask yourself, How well am I doing in that area?
What changes might you need to make in order to live out the
social dimensions of our faith better?
8
TUESDAY
June 29
Building Relationships Takes Effort
(Matt. 5:9).
Faith in God and reliance on His grace presuppose a commitment to
focus on Him and His will for our lives; they demand an intentional
turning away from what is evil and negative. They also demand a deter-
mination to bring our lives into harmony with God's will for us.
Likewise, harmonious relationships do not happen by accident. We
must be intentional about building relationships. As sinners living on a
planet filled with other sinners, we are naturally prone toward selfish-
ness, greed, and jealousy, attributes that, if left unchecked, would
destroy any fruitful, loving relationships we would seek to have.
How
do harmonious relationships come about?
I Pet. 3:11.
What are
we supposed to pursue actively?
Rom. 12:18.
The peace we are to pursue in our interaction with others is not a
mere absence of strife or disagreement. The biblical ideal of peace is
rooted in the Hebrew concept of
shalom,
which stretches far beyond
mere tolerance and includes a deep interest in others, expressed in
support and affirmation for those around us. Again, we must remem-
ber that these things don't come naturally to us; what comes natural
is greed, envy, and the desire for self-supremacy. No wonder we need
the Lord working in our lives.
What
basic rule should govern our relationship with others?
1 Cor.
10:24.
What is that text saying to us? Why is it so opposite of what
we, in our essential nature, are?
To look after others purely for their own good, with no selfish
motives, is to reveal Christ, whose love for suffering humanity was
premised on nothing selfish. He loved for love's sake. No selfish
motive led Him to do good. On the contrary, Jesus did good, because
He loved others and wanted the best for them. What a model, what an
ideal for us to seek to follow!
Contemplate the different ways Jesus revealed unselfish love
toward others in contrast to how you relate to others. End your
contemplation at the Cross, where Christ died to save those who
have fallen so short of His example.
9
WEDNESDAY
June 30
The Basis: Agape Love
(1 co, 13:1-13).
The New Testament uses several distinct words that all can be trans-
lated "love." One refers in particular to love for friends, while another
is mainly used in the context of sexual love. There is nothing inferior
about these kinds of love. They are meant to be a vital and enriching
part of human life in their proper time and place. But there is one spe-
cific
term—agape—which
refers to the kind of love that God has for
us. And this is the love we also must cultivate in our lives as the foun-
dation of all our dealings with others, a disinterested love that puts the
good of others before ourselves, the kind of love revealed perfectly in
the life of Christ.
In 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, the word for "love" all the way through
comes from
agape.
Read the chapter over as many times as you
can and then write out what you believe the Lord is telling you
with these words.
From
what Paul writes here, what is he saying love is? How does it
differ from much of the world's concept of love?
Look at some of the attributes of love as expressed in
1 Corinthians 13. Which ones might you find the most difficult
to reveal in your own life? Perhaps you tend toward impatience,
toward pride, or toward evil surmising—or even all these
things. How can you be changed? Look up John 15:5. What is
Jesus saying here that offers us the hope that we, too, can reflect
ugape
love in our own lives?
10
THURSDAY
July 1
God Always Comes First
(Luke 14:26).
Living as a Christian is a matter of getting our priorities right. A life
in which we and our own interests come first is not a Christian life but
a pagan existence. We will need to remember this constantly during
the coming weeks as we study various interhuman relationships.
In what
provocative way did Christ emphasize the need to priori-
tize our relationships?
Matt. 10:37, Luke 14:26.
What do you
believe that Jesus was telling us with these words?
What does it mean that we are to
hate
our loved ones for the sake
of Christ? "Scripture usage makes it clear that this is not 'hate' in
the usual sense of the word. In the Bible, 'to hate,' often should be
understood simply as a typical Oriental hyperbole meaning 'to
love less'
(see Deut. 21:15-17).
. . . Whoever has personal interests
that take precedence over loyalty to Christ and devotion to His
service will find it impossible to meet the requirements Christ
makes of him. At all times and under all circumstances the call of
the kingdom must take precedence."
—The SDA Bible
Commentary, vol.
5, pp. 811, 812.
In one sense, there seems to be almost a contradiction here: In a
study on how we should relate to others, we bring in Jesus' statements
that, on the surface, seem to downplay interpersonal relationships.
Yet, that's only on the surface. The point is that in order for us truly
to have the kind of relationship with others the Lord wants for us, we
need to keep Him first and foremost in our lives. Only from our rela-
tionship with Him can we then act toward others as He would have us
do. Because of what Jesus has done for us at the Cross—by reestab-
lishing the bond between heaven and earth—can we have a relation-
ship with Him.
A young woman, severely damaged by an abusive father, has
found it all but impossible to develop long-lasting and mean-
ingful relationships with anyone now. Why must she go to the
Cross to begin the healing process? What would tell her she
would find healing there?
11
FRIDAY
July 2
Further Study:
Read from Ellen G. White,
Welfare Ministry,
pp. 29-41.
"It is only by an unselfish interest in those in need of help that we
can give a practical demonstration of the truths of the gospel. 'If a
brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you
say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwith-
standing ye give them not those things which are needful to the body;
what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
alone.' And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the great-
est of these is charity.'
"—Welfare Ministry,
p. 32.
Discussion Questions:
0
In today's world ethnic diversity often appears to be a source
of hatred and conflict or seems to lead to an unhealthy kind of
nationalism and sense of superiority. Has ethnic bias ever influ-
enced your thinking in a negative way? How can ethnic identity
be a positive force, both in society and in the church? Or is it
always negative?
0
As much as time allows, read through the Gospels and see how
much emphasis Jesus placed on how we should relate to others.
What do the Gospels tell us about how important this topic is for
those who claim to be His followers?
0
Read Ephesians 2:11-18. How do these verses help us better
understand the closeness we can now have with the Lord, a close-
ness that will impact how we relate to others?
Summary: Religion has social dimensions. It is important to recog-
nize that people have been created for community and are destined to
live in relationships with others. We must remember that serving God
has both vertical and horizontal aspects. We do well to reflect regu-
larly on whether we allow God to have priority in our life and whether
all our interactions with others fit into the larger framework of our
relationship with Him.
12
INSIDS
Wry
The Bus Ride: Part 1
by
KRASIMIR KAREV
It was a bitterly cold evening. I pulled my scarf tighter around me as I
hurried from vespers to the bus stop. I shivered against the cold and tried
to shield myself from the wind and blowing snow. I arrived at the bus stop
to find just one other person standing there, a man in his forties. He
hunched down into his jacket and barely looked up to greet me. Then we
stood silently, waiting for the bus.
I felt an almost overpowering urge to talk to this man. I asked the man
what time it was, just to make conversation. After a few moments of chit-
chat, this stranger told me that his name was Stefan and that he intended
to commit suicide soon. I knew he was serious, for his entire body spoke
of hopelessness and unrelieved burdens.
I asked him if he would tell me why he was so down on life. He told me
he was an engineer and had been working in a factory in town. But recently
he had lost his job when the factory laid off many workers. Although he had
two university degrees, he could not find suitable work. To make matters
worse, his wife, who was a doctor, seemed to enjoy rubbing it in that he was
not working. Her attitude discouraged him more. He felt the sting of her
reproach and knew that she did not appreciate him as a man or as a husband.
In the dim light of the street lamp, I could see that this man was visibly
suffering as he shared his story. It was evident that he felt helpless to climb
out of his depression. But how could I help him? Soon the bus would
come, and we would part. I prayed silently that God would give me wis-
dom to say the right thing to this man.
Within a few minutes the bus came, and we climbed aboard. It was
almost empty, and we found seats together in the back of the bus, where
we could talk without interruption. Stefan's eyes begged for a thread of
hope to hang on to.
My mind sifted through Bible stories to find one about a man who had
undergone great difficulties. The prophet Elijah came to mind, and I began
telling Stefan about Elijah. As I talked, I felt reassured that God had
planted this prophet's story in my mind. It was as if the words came to me
from nowhere, and I sensed that each word was doing its good work in this
man's consciousness. I had no doubt that the Holy Spirit guided our con-
versation. We spoke animatedly, and he had lots of questions. It was as if
we were alone on the bus, totally unaware of the other passengers or of the
snow swirling outside.
(continued next week)
KRASIMIR KAREV
is a pastor in Pernik, Bulgaria.
Produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Dept.
Email:gomission@gc.adventist.org
13
LESSON
2
*July 3-9
"Honor Your Father
and
Your Mother"
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Week's Study:
Gen. 22:1-14, Exod.
20:12, Luke 2:41-52, Eph. 6:1-3, 1 Pet. 5:5.
Memory Text:
"Honour thy father and mother; (which is the
first commandment with promise;) that it may be well with thee,
and thou mayest live long on the earth"
(Ephesians 6:2, 3).
A
s Seventh-day Adventists, we point to the seventh-day Sabbath
as one of our core beliefs. And rightly so. It is part of the Ten
Commandments, which encapsulate the basic principles for
humanity. But to " 'honor your father and your mother' "
(Exod.
20:12, NIV)
is also one of the foundational principles for a healthy
society. It is interesting to note that these two principles—keeping the
Sabbath and honoring our parents—are singled out and mentioned
together: " ' "Each of you must respect his mother and father, and you
must observe my Sabbaths" ' "
(Lev. 19:3, NIV).
This week we'll take a look at just this specific concept, of how
children, or even how adults, should relate not only to their parents
but to those who are older, in general. Because, in almost all cases, no
matter who we are or how old we are, we come in contact with those
who are even older.
The Week at a Glance:
What does the Bible say about
how we should relate to older people? How do we honor our par-
ents? Can obedience to our parents ever interfere with our obli-
gations to God? What kind of examples does the Bible leave
regarding parent-and-child relationships?
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 10.
14
SUNDAY
July 4
Respect for "Gray Hair"
(1 Pet. 5:5).
Over the past few decades, in a large part of the world, a youth cul-
ture has developed, teaching that the secret of successful living is to
remain young and beautiful. Detection of a first wrinkle can cause a
minor, or even not so minor, trauma for someone who embraces the
ideals of the youth culture. But this youth culture goes far beyond the
way we look. Children and young people have become important
markets for manufacturers of clothing and sport shoes and for all
kinds of gadgets. They are specifically targeted by the entertainment
industry, as well as by fast-food chains. Parents are made to feel guilty
if their offspring cannot get the latest fads or follow the latest fash-
ions.
Just as worrisome, if not more so, is a parallel trend: In many mod-
ern homes in many parts of the world, the younger members of the
family tend to set the domestic agenda and to determine the value sys-
tem by which the home operates.
What
basic rule does the apostle Peter refer to as a guiding princi-
ple in any relationship between older and younger persons?
1 Pet.
5:5.
How was this same principle regarding the relationship
between young and old already embedded in the Mosaic law?
Lev. 19:32.
How do we apply this principle in our dealings with
older people?
Showing respect, and being submissive, does not mean accepting
everything without comment or complaint; nor must we obey every-
thing anyone older than we are tells us to do. These principles need to
be understood in the larger context of all God's commandments.
At the same time, however, this principle does underline the basic
concept that age and experience count and that respect is due those
who are older than we are, whatever our age. Indeed, we can honor
and respect those who are older than we are, even if we don't neces-
sarily agree with what they say or believe.
On a purely practical level, why does it make good sense to
honor and respect our elders? What justification, outside the
Bible imperatives, do we have for such an attitude?
15
MONDAY
July 5
Honoring Our Parents
(Exod. 20:•12).
How we relate to our parents is clearly an important issue. One of
the Ten Commandments specifically addresses the parent-and-child
relationship.
Read
Exodus 20:12. How does this principle inform us about our
relationship to our parents? For instance,
1.
What does honoring mean?
2.
Is honoring the same as being obedient? If not, how do these
two concepts differ?
3.
Is it possible to honor parents whose lifestyles we disapprove
of? Can children honor parents even if the parents are abusive?
"Our obligation to our parents never ceases. Our love for them, and
theirs for us, is not measured by years or distance, and our responsi-
bility can never be set aside."—Ellen G. White,
The Adventist Home,
p. 360.
Read
Proverbs 19:26. What further light does this text shed on how
we should relate to our parents? Does it mean children have a
duty to support their parents materially?
In many societies, aging parents have to rely on the material sup-
port of their children. Often elderly parents live in the home of one of
their adult children and form part of their
extended
family. In other
countries, this is no longer the case. One pays taxes and contributes to
social-security systems and expects to be cared for by society when
one no longer has regular income from work or can no longer live
independently. But, whatever the social system under which we live,
children must continue to care for their parents; if not in material
ways, certainly in immaterial ways. Few things are more abhorrent
than the neglect of aging parents by children too busy to spend time
with them.
Why do you think the Lord placed this commandment in the
law? What does this commandment tell us about the impor-
tance of caring for those (not only of family) who need help?
16
TUESDAY
July 6
What About Obedience?
(Eph. 6:1-3, Col. 3:20).
Many people have a problem with authority. They want either too
much or too little. Authoritarian people are a problem to themselves
and to others, ruining relationships as they bully their way through
life. Those who do not want to exert any authority and/or do not
accept any authority are, likewise, a source of trouble. This is true in
general but in particular in the parent-child relationship. Parental love
does not exclude the concept of discipline and obedience, and the
love of children to their parents finds concrete expression in accept-
ing parental authority.
What
aspect of the relationship between generations is singled out in
Paul's list of last-day conditions?
2 Tim. 3:2.
Paul's catalogue of elements of godlessness that will be rampant in
"the last days" is frightening. It is significant that he mentions dis-
obedience to parents as one of the terrible conditions of the time of
the end. This reveals a general moral breakdown that reaches into the
inner sanctum of the family, as well. And if the family is falling apart,
there's little hope for society as a whole.
How
does the Bible stress the importance of the acceptance of
parental authority?
Eph. 6:1, Col. 3:20.
The obedience the Bible demands is not blind obedience, and
respect for parental wishes cannot simply be enforced but must, to
a significant degree, be earned. Parents may make demands, but
these must be reasonable, consistent, and always with the best inter-
est of the child and, most important, not contrary to other biblical
principles.
Do children ever reach an age when their parents may no longer
expect respect, if not necessarily obedience, from them? If so,
when? When the children leave the home? Or when they
become legal adults? Can we show our parents respect and
honor while not obeying them? If so, how?
17
18
Gen. 22:1-14
Genesis 27
Lev. 20:9
Deut. 21:18-21
2 Sam. 15:1-12
Matt. 8:21, 22
Luke 2:41-52
John 19:26, 27
WEDNESDAY
Juij
,
7
Parents and Children: Part 1
The Bible is, in many ways, a family history. All through its pages,
we are shown the lives of families, often revealed in the context of
parent-and-children relationships. Some of these relationships are
quite healthy; others aren't. Yet, all are placed in the Bible for rea-
sons, because all can teach us something. The culture back then was
radically different from our culture today, but basic principles
remain.
Look
up the following texts. What can we learn from them about how
we should or should not relate to our parents?
THURSDAY
July 8
Parents and Children: Part 2
Yesterday's study provided us with some powerful and dramatic exam-
ples of parent-and-children relationships, particularly in the context of
how children should relate to their parents. The hard question is, How do
we apply those examples to us, today, such as those in Deuteronomy,
where rebellious children who don't obey their parents should be taken
out and stoned? Or what do we do with the Abraham and Isaac story
(obeying and honoring your parents is one thing, but this . .)?
Again,
keeping in mind the time and culture in which these incidents
occurred, what universal principles can you draw from these stories
that help us understand how we are to relate to our parents while,
at the same time, keeping our first loyalty to the Lord?
It is clear from some of these accounts that there can be a conflict
between obeying parents and obeying the Lord. Read Genesis 27:8
for one example. Or look at the situation in Matthew 8:21: What could
be more basic and honorable than burying one's own father?
Read
Ephesians 6:1. What does this
say
that helps us better understand
our obligations to our parents in light of our walk with the Lord?
Notice in Ephesians 6:1 that Paul not only tells children to obey
their parents "in the Lord" but gives the reason why they should: "for
this is right." And why is it right? The next verses give the reason:
Because it is a commandment of God.
A
young woman had grown up in a home of abusive, drug-
addicted, even violent parents whose shameful treatment of her
as a child left the woman an emotional cripple. Eventually, she
became a follower of Jesus. How is she supposed to honor her
father and mother?
19
FRIDAY
July 9
Further Study:
"Isaac believed in God. He had been taught
implicit obedience to his father, and he loved and reverenced the God
of his father. He could have resisted his father if he had chosen to do
so. But after affectionately embracing his father, he submitted to be
bound and laid upon the wood."—Ellen G. White,
The Story of
Redemption,
p. 82.
"Said one of her mother, 'I always hated my mother, and my mother
hated me.' These words stand registered in the books of heaven to be
opened and revealed in the day of judgment when everyone shall be
rewarded according to his works.
"If children think that they were treated with severity in their child-
hood, will it help them to grow in grace and in the knowledge of
Christ, will it make them reflect His image, to cherish a spirit of retal-
iation and revenge against their parents, especially when they are old
and feeble? Will not the very helplessness of the parents plead for the
children's love? Will not the necessities of the aged father and mother
call forth the noble feelings of the heart, and through the grace of
Christ, shall not the parents be treated with kind attention and respect
by their offspring? Oh, let not the heart be made as adamant as steel
against father and mother!"—Ellen G. White,
The Adventist Home,
p. 362.
Discussion Questions:
O
Read again Exodus 20:12. What qualifications, or exceptions,
if any, does it place on the commandment to honor our mother
and father?
O
What do you think it means to honor your parents "in the
Lord"? How does that help us better understand what is said in
Exodus 20:12?
Summary:
In today's society, the rights of children are very much
emphasized. And rightly so. But we should not lose sight of the fact
that older people are also important and that they have the right to be
respected by the youth. The commandment to "honor" our parents
applies to the young and to the not so young. Our parents deserve our
support and respect and, above all, our love. Families cannot function
adequately if there is no respect for authority.
20
I N S I D
The Bus Ride: Part 2
tort'
by
KRASIMIR KAREV
I met Stefan at the bus stop on a cold evening. I could tell he was bur-
dened down with a heavy weight of care. I felt impressed to speak to him
and prayed that God would tell me what to say. On the bus ride across
the city we talked, oblivious to the cold inside the bus or the snow
swirling around outside. Little by little I saw a glimmer of hope in
Stefan's eyes.
We talked about God's love for the sinner and about Jesus Christ, the
Savior. I could see hope begin to light his eyes. As we approached my stop,
I gave him the address of the church in the town where I lived and told him
when services were held. Then we parted.
Two weeks later on Saturday evening, Stefan came to the church for
vespers. He had brought a chess game with him, in hopes of playing a
game of chess with me. At the end of the service I greeted him warmly and
introduced him to several men in the church whom I had asked to pray for
Stefan. He told me that after we had talked that night on the bus he had
decided to find the courage to continue living rather than commit suicide.
I asked Stefan if he could share with me what had happened in the past
two weeks. He agreed, so we went outside into the cold and talked for two
hours.
He told me that he had learned that his wife was having an affair. He
had decided to move to a town in Bulgaria as far from his wife as pos-
sible. I asked him if I could pray for him before he left, and he agreed.
We prayed, then I gave him my telephone number, and we parted. I did
not know if I would ever see Stefan again, but I prayed for him every
day.
A few months later my telephone rang. It was Stefan. He sounded so
happy, so well, that I hardly recognized him. He had located the Adventist
church in his city, and the members had welcomed him and loved him. He
had found a job and was enjoying his work. He was studying the Bible and
seemed sincerely eager to learn more about what God had in store for him.
And he told me of the surprise that had awaited him—he had learned
that his great-grandmother had been an Adventist. "I have found myself1"
he exclaimed. "I am saved!"
Later still, I learned that Stefan had been baptized into the Adventist
Church. God took a man at the end of his rope on a freezing night and
warmed him with His love. He truly is able to save to the uttermost.
KRASIMIR KAREV
is a pastor in Pernik, Bulgaria.
Produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Dept.
Email:gomission@gc.adventist.org
?1
LESSON
3
*July 1 0- 1 6
Parenthood
Joys
and
Responsibilities
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Week's Study:
Ps. 127:3; Prov. 13:24;
23:13, 14; 29:15; Eph. 6:4; Phil. 4:9.
Memory Text:
"[Sons and daughters] are a heritage from the
Lord, children a reward from Him"
(Psalm 127:3, NIV).
/
s it more difficult to be a parent today than it was a few decades ago?
Or are people today simply more conscious of the demands of par-
enthood than they were in the past? Has it become more difficult to
fmd the time to be a good parent? Is it becoming more and more diffi-
cult to lead children in the right direction, in this age of television and
Internet, than it was when life was less hectic, when we were not bom-
barded with fast-paced commercials and sentimental soaps?
Also, however ideal the biblical notion of a two-parent family
(mother and father) is, the world is not an ideal place; many other
types of families exist. But whatever the type, the Bible offers us
inspired principles on how to be the best parents possible.
This week we will look at some of the key factors in responsible
Christian parenting. The Scriptures convey a clear message: To be a
parent is not only meant to be a great joy and honor but also an enor-
mous responsibility.
The Week at a Glance:
What is expected of a good par-
ent? What does the Bible say about discipline? Who ultimately is
responsible for the spiritual decision children make when they get
older? How important is our example to our children?
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 17.
22
SUNDAY
July 11
Fruit of the Womb
(Ps. 127:3).
The attitude of most people toward starting a family has changed
drastically. In the past, people were usually expected to have children
fairly soon after marriage. In many cultures, having a child before
nine months of married life raises eyebrows or worse. On the other
hand, not having children in the first few years after getting married
would be a reason for wonder or pity.
Attitudes today have greatly changed. The question for us, as a peo-
ple who seek to follow the Lord, is What should our attitudes about
children be?
Read
the following texts. What point do they seem to be making
about who does and does not have children?
Gen. 29:31; 30:2, 22;
1 Sam. 1:5, 6, 19, 20; 2:21; Luke 1:7, 13-25.
These texts show that God worked miracles in order for these
women to conceive. Yet, we must not assume that every barren
woman is barren because God has closed her womb. Although there
is no question that, when all is said and done, God is the Giver of life,
we need to be careful not to jump to conclusions regarding fertility
problems. Sin has brought physical damage to all of us, in one form
or another. In the end, whatever our situation, we need to trust in the
Lord. Those who do have children, however, must realize what an
awesome responsibility they have been given.
What
does the psalmist have to say on this topic?
Ps. 127:3.
In ancient biblical times, as in some cultures today, not being able
to have children was often the cause of great shame. Having a son to
ensure the family would not die out was of particular value, and hav-
ing many sons would usually bring enormous prestige. Against this
background, the statement of the psalmist that children are "a her-
itage" or even "a reward" from the Lord becomes extra meaningful.
But, in a more general way, the text emphasizes a truth many modern
people are inclined to forget: God is the Giver of children. Even today,
in an age of sexual enlightenment and fertility treatments, children
are a divine inheritance!
In what
ways
is having children parallel to the act of Creation
as depicted in Genesis 1:26, 27? What should these parallels tell
parents about their responsibilities toward their children?
23
MONDAY
July 12
What Is Expected of a Good Parent?
(Deus. 4:9; 6:6, 7; Eph. 6:4).
No one ever said that raising children was easy; and all of us know
that babies do not come into the world with instruction manuals.
Paul reminded Timothy of the duty we have to
provide
for our rel-
atives, and that, of course, applies, when we are married, first of all to
our partners and, when we have children, also to our offspring
(1 Tim.
5:8).
We are supposed to know what is good for them and to provide
them with these good things
(Matt. 7:11).
But there is more to
Christian parenting than giving children food, clothing, and shelter.
What
is to be a key element in the upbringing of children?
Deut. 4:9;
6:6, 7; Ps. 78:5-8; Prov. 22:6.
Read
Ephesians 6:1-4. What is this telling parents about how they
should relate to their children?
Ephesians 6:1-4 looks at the parent-and-child relationship from two
perspectives: that of the parent, as well as that of the child. The child
has the duty to obey and honor the parent, but the parent cannot treat
a child in any manner he or she wants to. Parents must be careful not
to discourage their children by continuous criticism and rebuke or by
the wrong kind of discipline. Order is essential, but unnecessary reg-
ulations and endless petty rules may do more harm than good and
may well "embitter" children
(Col. 3:21, NIV).
"The parent-child relationship is not one-sided. It is a feature of
Paul's treatment of these domestic categories that the stronger have
obligations to the weaker. The gospel introduced a fresh element into
parental responsibility by insisting that the feelings of the child must be
taken into consideration. In a society where the father's authority . . .
was absolute, this represented a revolutionary concept."—The
Expositor's Bible Commentary,
Frank E. Gaebelein, gen. ed. (Grand
Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House, 1978), vol. 11, p. 81.
What do you think it means to refrain from provoking your
children to wrath? If you are a parent, ask yourself how well or
how poorly you have been following Paul's words.
24
TUESDAY
July 13
Discipline—Yes, But How?
(Prov. 19:18).
"Discipline" can be understood in several ways. Not only is disci-
pline described as
training expected to produce a specific character-
istic or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or
mental improvement,
but also as
punishment intended to correct or
train.
This is surprisingly close to how the Bible describes
discipline.
The writer of the proverb has a lot to say about the necessity of
timely discipline. In 19:18 he puts it in these strong words:
"Discipline your son in his early years while there is hope. If you
don't you will ruin his life" (TLB).
Does
physical punishment have a role in disciplining a child?
Prov.
13:24; 23:13, 14; 29:15.
Many countries have introduced legislation that forbids any corpo-
ral punishment in schools. In some countries the law also forbids, or
severely restricts, physical punishment of children by their parents.
With this in mind, what can we say from a Christian perspective?
First of all, we must not forget that discipline varies from culture to
culture, and what is considered appropriate in one culture might not
be in another.
Second, we must realize that corporal punishment can easily
become a way of releasing the frustration and pent-up anger of the
parent or educator rather than a carefully thought-through response to
the objectionable attitude or action of a child.
And third, if corporal punishment ever has a place, it must be the
exception rather than the rule.
"Whipping may be necessary when other resorts fail, yet [the par-
ents] should not use the rod if it is possible to avoid doing so. . . .
Many times you will find that if you will reason with them kindly,
they will not need to be whipped. And such method of dealing will
lead them to have confidence in you."—Ellen G. White,
Child
Guidance,
p. 250.
How is the way in which God disciplines us as His sons and
daughters a model for the disciplining of children by their
earthly parents?
Heb. 12:6-11.
What principles can we learn
about disciplining our children from these verses? If you are a
parent, ask yourself, Has my corporal punishment been out of
anger or out of the principle depicted in Hebrews?
25
WEDNESDAY
July 14
Young People Must Decide
for Themselves
Christian parents
are challenged to do everything they can to
urge their children to stay close to the "faith of their fathers" and
to the church. But who, in the end, are responsible for the choices
children make as they get older?
Prov. 1:8-15.
The disciples believed religion was something for adults, but Christ
wanted the children also to come to Him
(Matt. 19:13-15).
He took
time for them, to talk to them, and to bless them. Christian parents and
other adult church members must be intentional in bringing children to
Christ and must take away any barriers they can possibly dispose of.
Of course, eventually each person, young or old, must make his or
her own decision whether or not to become a follower of the Lord. No
undue pressure should ever be applied. Children should not sign up
for baptism simply because their parents are eager they do so. But this
does not mean children should not be tactfully urged to make a choice.
As parents, we should try in our God-given power to make the path as
easy as possible for our children to accept the Lord.
Read
Matthew 19:16-23. What does it teach about free will regarding
salvation? Why must all parents always keep this principle in
mind? At the same time, because our children do have free will,
what does this tell us about how careful and tactful and loving we
must be with our children as we seek to guide them in the right
direction?
We can tell our children about Jesus. We can read daily from a good
children's Bible. We can teach them how to pray. We can take them
each week to the children's Sabbath School. We can make sure we have
videos in our home that are worth watching, and we can help our
youngsters, as they are developing into teenagers, to make deliberate
choices about the music to which they listen, the books they read, and
the films they watch. We can sacrifice financially by providing
Adventist education. But one of the most important aspects of
Christian parenting is never to cease praying for our children.
Countless are the stories of how God has answered the prayers of
parents who talked to the Lord about their children. This is an aspect
of parental care that never comes to an end.
26
THURSDAY
July 15
Being a Role Model
(Phil. 4:9, 2 Tim. 1:5).
Read
Philippians 4:9. What is Paul saying there? What principle do
we see in that text that can be very crucial for parents to be aware
of as they seek to guide their children on the right spiritual path?
It is easy for people, at least in public, to appear as fine Christians.
You can fool some of the people, most of the time. However, the peo-
ple you can't fool, at least for very long, are those in your own fam-
ily, particularly your children as they grow older. They will see things
about you no one else outside your family will see. How important,
then, that no matter what we profess, our lives not be lived in contra-
diction to our profession. This doesn't mean we are perfect; it means
only that our children see the sincerity and reality of our Christian
walk, which includes our own repentance, our own humility, our own
willingness to apologize to them, even when we make mistakes. How
we live impacts our children so much more than what we say or pro-
fess to believe.
What
role models did Timothy have in his youth, and how did these
help him to shape his life?
2 Tim. 1:5.
What message is here for us
as parents, as well?
In his book
Passing on the Torch,
Adventist sociologist Roger L.
Dudley makes the following observation: "I like to think of value trans-
mission as a huge smorgasbord where all the tempting dishes of com-
peting values are displayed. Here the youth will eventually get to
choose the items that are most appealing to them. And which will they
choose? Those that are the most colorful and attractive, most delectable,
most tasty! It is not our responsibility to force our values upon our
young people. It is our responsibility to model our values so attractively
that these young people cannot help seeing that they are vastly superior
to the competition, and will freely choose them."—(Hagerstown, Md.:
Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1986), p. 117.
Of all the things we can do for our children, why is loving them,
unconditionally, the way Christ loves us, the most important?
2
7
FRIDAY
July 16
Further Study:
Read from Ellen G. White,
Mind, Character, and
Personality, vol.
1, pp. 131-186;
Child Guidance,
pp. 169-174.
"Parents may do everything in their power to give their children
every privilege and instruction, in order that they may give their hearts
to God; yet the children may refuse to walk in the light and, by their
evil course, cast unfavorable reflections upon their parents who love
them, and whose hearts yearn after their salvation."—Child
Guidance,
p. 173.
"Children imitate their parents; hence great care should be taken to
give them correct models. Parents who are kind and polite at home,
while at the same time they are firm and decided, will see the same
traits manifested in their children. If they are upright, honest, and
honorable, their children will be quite likely to resemble them in these
particulars. If they reverence and worship God, their children, trained
in the same way, will not forget to serve Him also."—Page 215.
Discussion Questions:
0
Numerous times in the Bible, the Lord is called our Father,
and we are called His children. What do those images teach us
about how we, as parents (either as mother or father) should
relate to our children? How does our heavenly Father relate to
us? What can we learn from how He deals with us regarding how
we should deal with our children?
What should a parent do who realizes he or she has been a
very poor role model for his or her child? The child is now 18. He
or she no longer goes to church and follows a lifestyle that con-
flicts in many ways with Seventh-day Adventist standards. How
can the harm be undone?
Summary: As modern people, we are aware of the biological aspects
of conception and childbirth. However, that does not take away from
the fact that every child is a gift from God. Receiving children brings
joy but also a heavy responsibility. Parenting has to do with teaching
and with the transmission of values. Discipline, administered in love,
will ever be an important aspect of parenting. But, most significant of
all is that parents and other adults involved in the rearing of children
live by the faith they profess and make sure they are credible role
models.
28
The Shout
INSIDES
tOrj/
of
Joy
by
J. H.
ZACHARY
Stevanus Widjaja is the only Adventist in his family. Although his fam-
ily is Buddhist, he attended the Adventist university in Indonesia to study
English, knowing English would help him in his business plans. As grad-
uation approached, a college professor became concerned that Stevanus
had never made a decision for Christ, though he had attended weeks of
prayer and classes every day. The professor invited him to give his life to
Christ, but Stevanus held back.
The next day the professor was surprised to see Stevanus among the
baptismal candidates. During a nightlong struggle, the young man had
surrendered to Jesus.
And Stevanus has never turned away from Christ. Today he owns a
major importing business in Indonesia and employs 50 people. He com-
mitted using God's financial blessings to share his newfound faith with
others. He provides the finances for several major evangelistic programs
in Indonesia every year and has preached for three evangelistic series. He
praises the Lord that more than thirteen hundred persons have come to
God during the evangelistic meetings he has sponsored.
During one meeting in the province of Kalimantan (on the island of
Borneo), Stevanus sensed the presence and power of God in the hall as he
appealed to his audience to accept Jesus as Savior. Suddenly, a little girl
shouted, "Mommy, look!" She pointed to the ceiling. Her mother tried to
hush her. After the service the child's mother asked her, "Why did you
shout during the pastor's call?"
"I saw Jesus, Mommy. He was up there near the ceiling!"
That night Stevanus reported that 49 persons had responded to the call
of Christ. "Surely Christ was present that
night," he says quietly.
Stevanus continues to preach at two evan-
gelistic series a year, leaving his business in
the hands of his employees. "I have experi-
enced the presence of God during these meet-
ings. I must share Jesus with others as often
as possible."
H. ZACHARY
(left) is coordinator of international
evangelism for
The Quiet Hour.
Produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Dept.
Email:gomission@gc.adventist.org
LESSON
4
*July 17-23
Marriage Is Not
Out-of-Date
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Week's Study:
Gen. 2:18-25, John 2:1-
11, Eph. 5:22-33, Heb. 13:4, 1 Pet. 3:1-7.
Memory Text:
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved
the church and gave himself up for her"
(Ephesians 5:25, NIV).
A
ll through the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, the image
of marriage appears, in one form or another. Sometimes the
images are of good marriages; sometimes they are of bad
marriages; sometimes the images depict faithfulness; sometimes they
depict infidelity. Either way, and whether in the Old Testament or in
the New, marriage is often used as a metaphor for the relationship
between the Lord and His people.
Thus, it should be clear how seriously the Lord esteems marriage.
For Him to use it time and again as a metaphor for His relationship
with His people should tell us marriage should be something special.
Therefore, this week we take a look at some biblical principles
regarding this divinely inspired institution.
The Week at a Glance:
What can we learn about mar-
riage from the Genesis account? How should a husband treat his
wife? How does Christ's death reflect an important principle nec-
essary for creating a good marriage?
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 24.
30
SUNDAY
July 18
Marriage in Paradise
Read
Genesis 2:18-25. What basic principles can we find in this
account of the first husband/wife relationship that can help us,
today, understand what God's ideal for marriage should be? As
you read, ask yourself the following questions: (1) What signifi-
cance is in the fact Eve was created out of Adam's physical body,
as opposed to her being created from something separate?
(2) What do Adam's words in verse 23 mean? (3) Why, when they
saw each other naked, were they not ashamed?
However unique the background to the story, it does show there was
to be an intimacy between a husband and his wife that wasn't found
anywhere else. There showed a closeness, a bond, both physical and
spiritual, that no other person should be allowed to violate. The mar-
riage relationship is blessed of God; it's something sacred, something
we have been able to take from Eden, from a perfect world. How cru-
cial, then, that we cherish it as we should.
Read
Ephesians 5:22-33 and 1 Peter 3:1-7. How do both Paul and
Peter stress the unique bond of a marriage relationship? Who,
ultimately, is deemed the head of the home? And yet, at the same
time, what principles should dictate how the husband should treat
the wife?
Though both Peter and Paul are clear about the role of husband and
wife in marriage, notice how many times they stress that the husband
should love the wife; in fact, Paul, in Ephesians, admonished hus-
bands to love their wives with the kind of self-sacrificial love that
compelled Christ to love the church. Imagine how much better our
marriages would be if both husband and wife, in the Lord, followed
these biblical principles.
Dwell more on the idea of Christ's death as an example of the
kind of self-sacrificing love husbands should have for their
wives. What great changes could that attitude on the part of
husbands bring to homes and marriages?
31
MONDAY
July 19
Marriage—Till Death Do Us Part
(Matt.
5:32, 19:9).
Some people who have been married for just a year or two decide
they made a mistake and go their separate ways. Others who have
been together for thirty or more years conclude that their relationship
has become empty and stale and get a divorce. Also, an increasing
number of people live in common-law relationships and shy away
from marriage.
What is the underlying problem? Many of today's younger genera-
tion have a problem in making long-term commitments, whether it
comes to church membership and/or to sealing a love relationship
with a marriage vow.
How
do the words of Christ Himself indicate that marriage is a life-
long commitment?
Matt. 5:32, 19:9.
Those are very strong words, leaving what seems like little room
for extenuating circumstances. Indeed, the principles stated in the
Church Manual
continue to provide a solid basis for our thinking:
"Central to God's holy plan for our world was the creation of beings
made in His image who would multiply and replenish the earth and
live together in purity, harmony, and happiness. He brought forth Eve
from the side of Adam and gave her to Adam as his wife. Thus was
marriage instituted—God the author of the institution, God the offi-
ciator at the first marriage. . . .
"The church adheres to this view of marriage and home without
reservation, believing that any lowering of this high view is to that
extent a lowering of the heavenly ideal. The belief that marriage is a
divine institution rests upon the Holy Scriptures. Accordingly, all think-
ing and reasoning in the perplexing field of divorce and remarriage
must constantly be harmonized with that holy ideal revealed in Eden.
"The church believes in the law of God; it also believes in the for-
giving mercy of God. It believes that victory and salvation can as
surely be found by those who have transgressed in the matter of
divorce and remarriage as by those who have failed in any other of
God's holy standards."—(Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald® Pub.
Assoc., 2000), pp. 194, 195.
Focus on the last paragraph of the
Church Manual.
What hope
does that give you if you have, indeed, violated the biblical
standard of marriage? At the same time, what should Christ's
words above tell us about how important it is that we do
every-
thing
possible to keep our marriages intact?
32
TUESDAY
July 20
The Joy of Sex
Read Genesis 1:27, 28; 2:24, 25. What do they tell us about sexual-
ity? Who originated it? Who encouraged it? Was there anything
"dirty" about it in the context in which it is presented here?
Through the centuries there have been Christians who have rejected
sex as dirty, unspiritual, and sinful, even to the point that many
believed that those who wanted to dedicate themselves to the Lord in
a special way ought to remain celibate. Throughout church history, in
many religious communities, sex was, at least officially, outlawed,
even among married people.
On the other hand, immorality has, at times, been hailed as true
freedom, with all inhibitions set aside in the name of advanced reli-
gious truth.
The Christian view of sex is a balanced view. There is more to life
than sex. But the enjoyment of our sexuality is definitely a precious
part of life—a gift of our Creator, who made us "male and female,"
and within the right context it can be a beautiful expression of both
human and divine love.
Like all God's gifts, however, it can be abused, and few gifts have
been more greatly abused than this one. The key for the Christian is
to understand under what circumstances the Lord wants him or her
to benefit from and enjoy this blessing. When is sexual activity
appropriate, and when is it not? These are important questions,
because our world is filled with sad results of those who have mis-
used one of God's greatest manifestations of His love for humanity.
How like the devil to take something so wonderful and turn it into
something that will lead to the ruin of many souls.
All of the following texts talk, in one context or another, about
human sexuality: Genesis 2:24; Proverbs 5:15-23; Ecclessiates
9:9; Song of Solomon; Romans 1:26,
27;
1 Corinthians 7:5.
From these texts and any others you find, write a paragraph for
someone who isn't a Christian, explaining the biblical view of
sexuality.
33
WEDNESDAY
July 21
When There Are Problems
(Matt. 5:27, 28;
Heb. 13:4).
We live in a world full of temptations. Never should we under-
estimate the determination of the devil to divert the followers of
Christ from their life of discipleship; and one of the most effective
ways of doing so is to lead them into sexual immorality. The apostle
Paul was specifically addressing instances of immorality among
church members when he stated: "So, if you think you are standing
firm, be careful that you don't fall"
(1 Cor. 10:12, NIV).
What principle ought to be kept in mind and to be pursued with firm
determination by all who are married and claim to be followers of
Christ?
1 Cor 10:13, Heb. 13:4.
Ellen G. White makes an important point when stressing the role of
our will in remaining faithful to a marriage vow. A determination to
focus our mind on spiritual matters will help us when we face sexual
temptations: "Christ presented before His disciples the far-reaching
principles of the law of God. He taught His hearers that the law was
transgressed by the thoughts before the evil desire was carried out in
actual commission. We are under obligation to control our thoughts,
and to bring them into subjection to the law of God. The noble pow-
ers of the mind have been given to us by the Lord, that we may employ
them in contemplating heavenly things. God has made abundant
provision that the soul may make continual progression in the divine
life. . . . We give our time and thought to the trivial and commonplace
things of the world, and neglect the great interests that pertain to eter-
nal life."—The
SDA Bible Commentary,
vol. 3, p. 1145.
But not all is necessarily lost when we do succumb to temptation.
Although sin may result in consequences that can not be undone, God
is always willing to forgive. And to forgive impure thoughts, sexual
indiscretions, or even blatantly immoral conduct is no more difficult
for God than to forgive a lie or an act of pride or selfishness.
What practical steps can both men and women take in the area
of alleviating sexual temptation, not only for themselves but to
make sure they aren't a stumbling block to others? How do
what we read, watch, or wear, and where we go all play a role in
how well we deal with this problem?
34
THURSDAY
July 22
Christ Endorsed Marriage
(John 2:1-11).
Some of the advice given by the apostle Paul would suggest he was
not overenthusiastic about marriage. Statements to that effect
(such as
in 1 Corinthians 7:8)
should, however, be read in their context. They
were written in response to a specific question
(vs. 1),
under circum-
stances we do not know in detail. Just two chapters later, Paul claims
the right to marry and refers to the "other apostles and the Lord's
brothers and Cephas," who traveled together with "a believing wife"
(1 Cor 9:5, NIV).
The overall message of the Bible is undeniable:
Marriage not only is permitted but it is a great gift, in particular, for
believers who know the One who instituted it.
What
does the prominent place given in John's Gospel to the story of
Christ's attendance at the wedding in Cana suggest?
John 2:1-11.
It is quite significant that John includes the story of the wedding in
Cana among the very few miracle stories he recounts. The account
makes abundantly clear that Jesus was happy to be associated with
this wedding feast and that, by His very presence, He underlined not
only how good it is to have a party but that it is good when people get
married.
How
does the use of the imagery of the wedding feast further under-
line the value and importance of marriage?
Matt. 22:1-14, Rev.
19:7-9.
"In Biblical times a marriage involved two major events, the
betrothal and the wedding. These were normally separated by a period
of time during which the two individuals were considered husband
and wife and as such were under the obligations of faithfulness. The
wedding began with a procession to the bride's house, which was fol-
lowed by a return to the house of the groom for the marriage feast. By
analogy, the church, espoused to Christ by faith, now awaits the
parousia when the heavenly groom will come for his bride and return
to heaven for the marriage feast which lasts throughout eternity."
—Robert H. Mounce,
The Book of Revelation
(Grand Rapids, Mich.:
W B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1977), p. 340.
Christ gave Himself totally and unselfishly for His people; we,
as a people, are to give ourselves totally and unselfishly to the
Lord. How does that model of giving one's self to another reveal
essential principles of a strong Christian marriage?
35
FRIDAY
July 23
Further Study:
Comments on marriage and related topics by Ellen
G. White are found in a number of different compilations. Her book
The Adventist Home
contains much relevant material. See, for exam-
ple, Section III: "Choosing a Life Partner," pp. 43-75, and Section V:
"From the Marriage Altar," pp. 99-127.
"Like every other one of God's good gifts entrusted to the keeping
of humanity, marriage has been perverted by sin; but it is the purpose
of the gospel to restore its purity and beauty. In both the Old and the
New Testament the marriage relation is employed to represent the ten-
der and sacred union that exists between Christ and his people, the
redeemed ones whom he has purchased at the cost of Calvary. 'Fear
not,' he says; 'thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his
name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel."Turn,
0
backslid-
ing children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you.' "—Ellen G.
White,
Review and Herald,
December 10,1908.
"It should henceforth be the life study of both husband and wife
how to avoid everything that creates contention and to keep unbroken
the marriage vows."—Ellen G. White,
The Adventist Home,
p. 85.
Discussion Questions:
0
If sex is to be enjoyed only within the context of marriage, how
do those who do not have a partner, or those who have lost their
partner, experience their sexuality? Should they simply forget
they are sexual beings? Can one be fully
male or female
without
having any sexual relationship? What does Christ's example
offer them?
Look at the second Ellen White quote above. What practical
things can both the husband and wife do in order to protect the
sanctity of their marriage vows?
Summary:
Many marriages fail. As Christians we can never go along
with a situation in which unfaithfulness, in word or thought, is con-
doned. At the same time, a forgiving spirit can save and restore many
a relationship that would otherwise be doomed. The Lord deems mar-
riage as something sacred; we, as humans, should do no less.
36
INSIDE S
torV
Flee Into His Arms:
Part 1
by
C
HARLOTTE ISHKANIAN
Maryam's eyes burned from crying. Her body ached from the beating
she had received.
A failure,
she thought.
I can't even kill myself If life isn't
worth living, why is death so hard?
Maryam was born into a Muslim family in a Middle Eastern country.
When Maryam was born her father shouted at her mother, "Why did you
have to have a girl? Can't you do anything right?"
Maryam feared her father and hated the abuse that she and her mother
faced. She was not permitted to invite any of the neighborhood children to
her home, for they were "filthy infidel Christians." If she even talked to a
Christian child, her father would beat her. And when she cried, her mother
simply told her to pray, pray. Maryam prayed, but her prayers were never
answered. She became convinced that no one heard her prayers. Maryam
hated her life, hated what her father was doing to the family, but she saw
no way out.
When Maryam's father made some bad business deals and was sent to
prison for five years, Maryam found work to help her mother support the
family.
After several years Maryam's father convinced a friend to pay for his
release from prison. He returned home and announced that Maryam would
be married to the son of his friend. When Maryam learned that her father
had agreed to give her in exchange for his freedom, she was devastated.
Once more she realized that she was only an object to her father, never a
cherished child.
Maryam did not know the man she would marry, but she knew that he
had a terrible temper. He was powerful and rich and had great influence in
the government. Maryam did not consider this a marriage. She felt like a
slave, sold to a man for her father's freedom.
From the beginning Maryam's husband oppressed and abused her. He
beat her for almost any reason. Maryam lived in fear. When she learned that
she was pregnant, she was secretly pleased, for she thought at last she would
have someone who would love her back. But her husband's constant beat-
ings killed the child and left Maryam badly bruised. Heartbroken, she tried
to commit suicide. But she failed.
I can't even kill myself,
she thought.
Maryam desperately wanted out, but Islamic law forbade her to get a
divorce. And her husband would never allow her to have a passport, so she
could not run away. Her own family would not listen to her when she tried
to tell them her troubles. She had to get out, but how?
(continued next week)
CHARLOTTE ISHKAIVIAN
is editor of Mission.
Produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Dept.
Email:gomission@gc.adventist.org
37
LESSON
5
*July 24-30
Friendship
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Week's Study:
I Samuel 20, John 15:12-
15, 2 Cor. 6:14-18, Phil. 2:3-8.
Memory Text:
"A friend loves for all times, and a brother
is
born for adversity"
(Proverbs 17:17, NIV).
M
any people claim to have lots of friends, though, in reality, they
have only superficial links with other people and then only to
the degree they find these links personally useful. True friend-
ship, in contrast, does not focus on usefulness but on a personal interest
in selected fellow human beings with whom we talk, with whom we lis-
ten, and with whom we share our time and emotions. After all, as we'll
see this week, friendship is one of the concepts used to describe what our
relationship with the Lord should be; thus, friendship must be based on
something more than a superficial need to use someone for our own ends.
"Our affection for one another springs from our common relation to
God. We are one family, we love one another as He loved us. When
compared with this true, sanctified, disciplined affection, the shallow
courtesy of the world, the meaningless expression of effusive friend-
ship, are as chaff to the wheat."—Ellen G. White,
Mind, Character,
and Personality, vol. 1,
p. 211.
The Week at a Glance:
How is friendship depicted in the
Bible? How can friendship become a negative experience? How do
friendships reflect our relationship with God? What is the basic
principle behind true friendship? What must be experienced in
our hearts in order to be a true friend?
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, July 31.
38
SUNDAY
July 25
What Is a Friend?
(1 Samuel 20).
While it is true we cannot always choose all our relatives, we do
have more leeway in choosing our friends. It seems inevitable that for
beings who are, essentially, social creatures, we will be in contact
with those whom we deem
friends.
Yet, not all friendships are alike.
Centuries ago the Greek philosopher Aristotle categorized various
kinds of friendships based on the motives that established the rela-
tionship between the parties. Since that time, many writers have
expounded on this very interesting and, at times, complex phenome-
non
of friendship.
Think about someone whom you consider or had considered a
friend.
What particular qualities identify your relationship with that
person? Read Proverbs 18:24. How does that text reflect the qualities
that define your experience of friendship, if at all?
It is interesting, too, that the word translated "friend" in the last part
of this verse in Proverbs comes from the Hebrew word for "love." In
other contexts, that word could have been translated "lover." The point
seems to be that a friend is indeed someone with whom you have a
close bond, different from a mere acquaintance or co-worker.
Read
the story of the friendship between Jonathan and David as
depicted in 1 Samuel 20. What characteristics emerge from this
account that help us understand what a friendship is? How does
this story relate to Proverbs 18:24? How do these characteristics
compare with what you wrote above? Also, how do Jonathan's
actions fit in with what Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:1?
Notice from this story how the Lord formed the center of their
friendship. Look especially at 1
Samuel 20:14,
with the phrase "the
kindness of the Lord." We now see, though, in this whole relationship,
a reflection of the kindness and mercy of God, manifested in the rela-
tionship between these two men.
Looking at the story of David and Jonathan, ask yourself about
someone whom you consider a friend. How could you better man-
ifest the traits of friendship as revealed in the biblical account?
39
M
0 N
July 26
Bad Company
(2 Cor 6:14-18).
The term
friend,
at least in English, does not have to be of neces-
sity something positive. Who knows how many lives have been ruined
because of the negative influence of a
friend?
For instance, many
people who struggle with some sort of substance abuse, be it alcohol
or drugs, often trace their introduction to the substance: not from a
shadowy figure hiding in a dark alley but from their best friend. How
ironic and, yet, how common, when best friends turn out to be bad
friends.
A young man, somewhat of an outcast in school and coming from
a cold, uncaring family, found friends who made him part of their
close-knit circle. He soon knew they would put their lives on the line
for him, and he felt such a sense of belonging that he would have
risked his life for them. Sounds like a great thing, right? Sounds like
the beauty of friendship, as depicted in Proverbs 18:24, right? Well,
not quite, because we're talking about a young man who joined a
youth gang heavily involved in violence, theft, and drug abuse. Thus,
like anything, friendship, even what we might call a "good friend,"
can be a double-edged sword.
Read
2 Corinthians 6:14-18. Notice the contrasts depicted in the
texts. What do they tell us? Though we often apply these verses to
marriage, what principles could help us understand the kind of
friendships the Lord desires us to have? How should these princi-
ples guide our friendships? At the same time, in what ways can we
take this admonition too far? How do we balance it, for instance,
with Matthew 5:13, 14?
"Paul is telling the Corinthians that they cannot have
compromising
relationships with unbelievers—not that they cannot have relation-
ships whatsoever. Relationships that cut the connection with God are
to be completely excluded."—W. Larry Richards,
The Abundant Life
Bible Amplifier-2 Corinthians
(Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press®
Publishing Association, 1998), pp. 148-150.
How can you tell if your friendship with a nonbeliever is hurt-
ing you spiritually? If you believe it is, what should you do?
40
TUESDAY
July 27
Let This Mind Be in You
(Phil. 2:3-8).
As human beings, we are by nature selfish and egotistical: Our first
inclination is to look out for "number one." Though some struggle
with this problem more than others, it is the default mode for a sinful,
fallen race. For any relationship—including friendship between self-
ish and egotistical people—to survive, these qualities need to be sub-
sumed. In the end, only the sanctifying power of God working on the
heart can bring about the kind of changes needed for a true friendship.
No wonder, as we saw in Sunday's section, the Lord was in the center
of the relationship between David and Jonathan. What friendship will
succeed if it's based on people looking out only for themselves?
Read Philippians 2:3, 4. What essential principle is shown there, and
why is it so crucial for forming a true friendship?
In so many ways, the key to a good friendship is found in the same
principles found in a good marriage: the willingness of each member
to put the good of the other first. This is seen in the example we have
of Jesus, giving Himself for the good of others. Think of the kind of
friendships we would have were we to esteem others better than our-
selves (and were they to do the same for us) or if we looked not upon
just our own things but upon the things of others (and they were to do
the same for us). This was, of course, the essence of what Christ did
when here in the flesh.
The sad reality is so many friendships are often based on selfish
motives (What's in this for me?); and when someone realizes there's
no benefit for them in the relationship, the friendship cools, if not
ends. This is nothing extraordinary; it is simply human nature. Far
from putting the needs of others before ourselves, oftentimes we find
jealousy and envy ruining a friendship. In his
Confessions,
Jean
Jacques Rousseau wrote about how, once he became famous, many of
his
friends
turned against him. Again, this isn't anything extraordi-
nary; it's human nature unsubdued by the power of Christ working in
our lives.
Read Philippians 2:5-8. Here is the key to bringing about the
kinds of changes in us that can stimulate strong friendships.
How are your friendships? Are they defined by the texts for
today or by jealousy, expediency, and convenience? Dwell, pray,
and meditate on these verses in Philippians.
41
WEDNESDAY
July 28
How Christ Made Friends
(Luke 19:1-10).
The gospel shows us how Christ made friends. He took time to talk
to people and to listen to them. He took time to eat together with oth-
ers and to celebrate special events with them.
Read
the following passages and analyze what each tells us about
Christ's skills in interhuman relations and, in particular, in mak-
ing friends.
John 4:4-26:
Jesus speaks and listens to the Samaritan woman.
Luke 19:1-10:
Jesus stays with Zacchaeus.
Luke 14:1-14:
Jesus accepts hospitality from a prominent Pharisee.
In all these situations, Jesus comes to people where they are and
mingles among them as one of them. He doesn't act too good for the
Samaritan woman or doesn't feel too low for the chief Pharisee. Jesus
shows Himself ready to listen, to get involved, to show a genuine
interest in others. If we will reach out to people, listen, show empathy,
and give others the sense that they are valued and accepted, we will be
able to establish meaningful relationships and even friendships with
the most unlikely people.
This is important if we are to reach others with the gospel. How are
unchurched, secular people ever going to listen to a sermon? How can
they ever be persuaded to read a book about Christ? Many will be
intrigued enough to decide they want to know more only if they have
seen Christianity in action and actually have met a credible Christian.
Christ, however, didn't make friends just for the sake of making
friends. He came in contact with the lost, and He became their
friend in order to reach them with eternal life. What about us?
What motivates our friendship with nonbelievers? At the same
time, if it becomes apparent that they have no interest in our
faith, do we then just shake the dust off our feet and walk away?
What kind of friendship is that?
42
THURSDAY
July 29
Not Servants but Friends
(John 15:12-15).
No matter how ideal our friendships, people are people, and we
should never lean totally upon them
(Ps. 118:8, 9; Jer 17:5),
for
sooner or later people will fail us, just as we fail others. That's why
our Best Friend, the One whom we can trust implicitly, must be the
Lord, whom we can know intimately through Jesus Christ
(John
14:9).
However important human friendships are, however much we
can learn to trust in the love and dedication of others, we build upon
a flimsy foundation when we build our faith upon anything other than
the Rock
(Matt. 7:24, 25).
Read
John 15:12-15. What did Jesus call His disciples? What does it
mean to say we are "friends" with God, as opposed to servants?
What's the difference? What kind of relationship does He seek
with us? What can we learn from our friendship with God that
can help us with other friendships? At the same time, what is
unique about our friendship with God that we can have with no
one else?
(See, for instance, vs. 14.)
In verse 13, Jesus reveals the essence of true love and true friend-
ship, which again comes back seeking unselfishly the best for others
over and above ourselves. This is the highest ideal, and Jesus here
points to His own manifestation of that ideal as His words point to the
Cross. It's only as we have the kind of assurance, peace, and security
that comes from knowing God, from knowing He is our Friend, from
knowing we are accepted by Him, that we can give of ourselves and
become the kind of friend who truly is a friend, not only with the Lord
but with others.
Look at John 15:13. It presents an incredibly high ideal for
friendship. How many friends do you have for whom you would
be willing to die? Do you have to be willing to die for someone
in order to be called his or her friend? If not, what do you
think Jesus is telling us with those words? What principle is He
teaching?
43
FRIDAY
July 30
Further Study:
"Friendship may be the only form of human social
relationship that is sustained primarily by kindness. . . . One con-
tinues to function as a parent, spouse, worker, and neighbor, even
though kindness may be lacking. . . . With friendship, it is entirely dif-
ferent. Kindness is the glue that binds friends together. If I should
humiliate a friend, be insensitive to the feelings of a friend, cause
unnecessary harm or hurt to a friend, or in any way treat a friend as an
object that I use for my own pleasure and gratification, the friendship
dissolves."—Ray S. Anderson,
Living the Spiritually Balanced Life
(Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Book House Co., 1998), pp. 78, 79.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
CO
Research indicates that new Seventh-day Adventists tend to
lose most of their old friends within approximately seven years of
joining the church. Their former circle of friends tends to be
replaced by others whom they have met in their new spiritual
home. Is that a good thing, or should new members strive to
retain their non-Adventist friends of the past? If so, why, and
under what circumstances?
0 The Bible presents some high ideals for friendship, including
even the giving up of one's life for a friend. How, though, do we
balance that out with our other relationships and obligations,
such as to our family or to the Lord? What happens when obli-
gations to friends clash with obligations to family or to the Lord?
0
Euripides wrote that real friendship is shown in times of trou-
ble; prosperity is full of friends. How does this idea compare with
what we have studied this week about friendship?
Summary: The Bible presents some high ideals for friendship, some-
thing that does not come naturally to the human heart. Fortunately,
through the example and power of Jesus, we can be the kind of friends
the Lord would have us to be.
44
INSIDE
S
tOrV
"•••••••••-
Flee Into His Arms:
Part 2
by
CHARLOTTE
ISHKANIAN
Maryam was desperate to get out of her abusive marriage, but with no
money, no passport, no friends, she could see no way to escape. Then she
met Samaan. He was kind and seemed to care what happened to her. He
offered to help her escape, but she hesitated to trust him. One day her
husband found Maryam talking with Samaan and threatened to kill them
if he caught them together again. Maryam had no choice. It was better
to risk death by fleeing than to face a slow death at the hands of her
husband.
She and Samaan fled their homeland and took refuge in Europe, where
Maryam hoped her husband would never find her. They applied for asy-
lum and waited for word of their fate. Maryam knew that if they were sent
back to their homeland, they both would be killed.
Maryam suffered frequent nightmares and depression from her years of
abuse and her uncertain future. Samaan tried to comfort her and protect
her, but often nothing helped.
One day Maryam and a friend were walking in a store when a young
man approached them and spoke in their native language. His simple mes-
sage stunned Maryam. "Jesus loves you," he smiled as he gave the women
a pamphlet. Maryam listened as her friend peppered the young man with
questions about God.
"Can you come to my house and tell me more?" her friend asked the
young man. He agreed. Maryam decided to join her friend as they learned
more about God. For several weeks the two women and young man spent
hours together talking about God. And little by little Maryam began to
hope that maybe there is a God who cares after all.
Maryam shared what she was learning with Samaan, and together the
two accepted Jesus into their lives. Samaan wanted to marry Maryam, but
she could not obtain a divorce without risking their lives. At last they
found a way, and Maryam and Samaan were married.
"I still have problems," Maryam says, "but now I know that Jesus loves
me and will never leave me. Samaan loves me too. Samaan's love helps me
understand God's love. At last I have found a sense of worth, of value in
life.
"I can never return to my homeland, never see my mother or brothers
again. But God is showing me that I have a huge family around the world.
And even better, I have hope of eternity. I may never have a home on this
earth, so all I can hope for is a home in God's mansion forever."
CHARLOTTE ISHKANIAN
is editor
of Mission.
Produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Dept.
_
Email:gomission@gc.adventist.org
LESSON
6
*July 31—August 6
Religion
in the
Workplace
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Week's Study:
Gen. 2:15; 3:17-19; Lev.
19:35, 36; Eccles. 9:10; Matt. 18:21; Luke 15:11-32.
Memory Text:
"The man of integrity walks securely, but he who
takes crooked paths will be found out"
(Proverbs 10:9, NIV).
I
n the aftermath of a ferry disaster in 1987 near Belgium, the
experts faced serious problems in identifying all the victims. They
found that one of them had a double identity; he had lived for
years under one name in England and under another name in France.
Just imagine how difficult it must have been for this man to keep
those two lives, with two families and two sets of friends, in two dif-
ferent countries, totally separate.
This kind of situation does not, of course, occur very often. But
in many ways people can live double or even multiple lives. That
goes for Christians too. We must make sure not to compartmental-
ize our life into totally different spheres, in which we are quite dif-
ferent persons in different places. We must be the same kind of per-
son in the workplace as we are at home or in church, operating with
the same set of Christian values. This week we'll take a look at some
Bible principles on how we as Christians should behave in the work-
place.
The Week at a Glance:
What happened to work after the
Fall? What are the obligations of a Christian employer and
employee? How should Christians give or receive discipline and
correction?
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 7.
46
SUNDAY
August 1
Work Ethic
(Gen. 2:15, 3:17-19).
Read
Genesis 2:15. What does it tell us about
the existence of work
in the pre-Fall world?
According to the Bible, work existed even in Paradise, in a perfect
environment. Obviously, work must have been something good, some-
thing that was an integral part of God's original plan for the human
race. After the Fall, the concept of work continued but, no doubt, in a
radically different environment than before.
Read
Genesis 3:17-19.
What does it imply about work in the post-
Fall world?
Cursed, sorrow, sweat, thorns, thistles—these
are some of the
words used to describe the fate that awaited humanity because of sin,
words used even in the context of the work human beings would need
to do in a fallen world.
Read
carefully Genesis 3:17. What does it mean that God "cursed ...
the ground" for the sake of Adam?
"The thorn and the thistle—the difficulties and trials that make his
life one of toil and care—were appointed for his good as a part of the
training needful in God's plan for his uplifting from the ruin and
degradation that sin has wrought."—Ellen G. White,
Steps to Christ,
p. 9. In other words, the Lord made life more difficult for the race, not
as punishment but as a means to help mitigate against the ravages of
sin. This principle can be seen often, even today: Those who engage
in honest labor usually get into less trouble than those who are idle,
with nothing to do. There's something about the discipline and routine
of work that, under the right circumstances, can help build character,
a crucial task for beings steeped in sin.
In what ways, in your own experience, have you seen the ben-
efits and blessings that come from work?
47
M 0 IN DAY
August 2
"Whatsoever Thy Hand Findeth ."
(Eccles. 9:10).
Whether in the poignant paintings of Vincent Van Gogh, who tried to
capture the hardship of coal miners toiling at their task, or in some of the
beautiful prose of Leo Tolstoy, who all but romanticized the toil of peas-
ants in the field, human beings have sought to capture, in one way or
another, the inescapable fact of work. With rare exceptions, most people
have worked in one capacity or another. Many people, in fact, spend a
great deal of their time working. The big question for Christians, then, is
What kind of relationships should we have in the workplace?
Read
Ecclesiastes 9:10. What is this text telling us that could give us
a principle for the Christian on the job?
One thing most of us have learned, or at least should have learned, is
that if we profess to be Christians, people will watch us. As Christians,
we make some pretty bold claims, claims about having a new life in
Christ, about having a peace that passes all understanding, about striving
for a higher moral ideal. We are witnesses, in one way or another
(Isa.
43:10, 1 Cor 4:9, 2 Cor 3:2).
Thus, think for a moment: Which would
give a better witness to your faith: if you were a hard, diligent, honest
worker who did not only what was expected of you but perhaps even
more, or if you were a slacker—cutting corners, trying to get away with
as much as you could? The answer, of course, is obvious. Sure, there are
all sorts of circumstances that can, at times, make it difficult for us to be
good witnesses at work, but, as a rule, a Christian should be a reliable,
honest worker doing what he or she is paid for, knowing the true reward
is not here but in a new heaven and a new earth. In this context, Ellen
White wrote of Christ's early years: "He was not willing to be defective,
even in the handling of tools. He was perfect as a workman, as He was
perfect in character. By His own example He taught that it is our duty to
be industrious, that our work should be performed with exactness and
thoroughness, and that such labor is honorable. . . . All should find some-
thing to do that will be beneficial to themselves and helpful to others.
God appointed work as a blessing, and only the diligent worker finds the
true glory and joy of life."—Ellen G. White,
The Desire ofAges,
p. 72.
The text in Ecclesiastes and the excerpt from Ellen White pres-
ent an ideal attitude about work. How does your attitude com-
pare? If you're honest with yourself, what changes do you need
to make?
48
TUESDAY
August 3
Christian Values in the Workplace:
Part 1
Buying a secondhand car is often considered a rather hazardous
adventure. The car may be beautifully cleaned and polished, but what
dark secrets are hidden under the hood? Can you trust the odometer?
It is said that one should never buy a car from, or sell a car to, a
friend, since this may well put the friendship in jeopardy. This should
not apply to Christians. Our business deals must be above reproach,
whether we privately sell our car or whether we trade professionally.
Indeed, whatever work or business we are in and whatever level at
which we work, we should be honest, honorable, and fair, because
that is what our God tells us to be.
Look up
the following texts. What is each one saying, and what are
their messages for Christians in the workplace?
Lev. 19:35, 36;
Prov. 10:17; Jer. 22:13; Mal. 3:5.
Whether employer or employee, as a Christian we need to be hon-
est and fair with either our employer or employees. The only thing
worse than employees who abuse their work situation by being dis-
honest are employers who are dishonest with those under their super-
vision.
Read
again Leviticus 19:35, 36. What motivation is given for honesty
in business dealing?
Because we are Christians, our concepts of right and wrong, good
and evil, aren't based merely on the fluctuating whims of culture and
time, which change from culture to culture and from time to time;
rather, they are based on the eternal God, who never changes
(James
1:17).
Thus, we should do what is right and honest, because those
things that are right and honest are rooted in God, our Creator and
Redeemer. We shouldn't manifest honesty, integrity, and fairness
only when they suit us, when they work to our advantage; rather, they
should be foundational principles that underlie all we do as
Christians, whether at home or in the workplace.
49
WEDNESDAY
August 4
Christian Values in the Workplace:
Part 2
Read
Proverbs 16:32, 10:1, and 12:1 carefully and prayerfully. What
do these texts teach us regarding the importance of discipline and
correction?
Whether it is the army or a school or a factory or whether we talk
about the home or the church, discipline is essential. The issue of disci-
pline is a coin with two sides. Most of us will, at least from time to time,
have to discipline others: children, co-workers, or church members. We
must learn how to do this with consistency, tact, justice, and compas-
sion. But we must also be receptive to discipline and learn how to
accept counsel, direction, and, if necessary, correction all in a mature
and constructive manner. As Christians in the workplace, we must learn
not only to give discipline and correction but to receive it, as well.
We have
all through the Bible, particularly in the Gospels, exam-
ples of Jesus either forgiving offenders
(John 8:4-11)
or teaching
us the principles of forgiveness
(Matt. 18:21, 22; Luke 15:11-32).
How helpful are these texts for a Christian employer or super-
visor who is dealing with a troublesome employee? Do these texts,
though, imply that no discipline or correction should be adminis-
tered, or are they, instead, teaching a principle that could, in the
right context, be applied in the workplace?
At the same time, a Christian employee could believe he or she has
been treated unfairly by his or her boss. Jesus, however, expressed
some powerful words regarding the attitude of those who are treated
unfairly
(Matt. 5:38-42).
Look at Matthew 5:38-42. In what ways is this passage helpful for
understanding how an employee should react to unfairness? Do
these verses
mean an employee should, therefore, accept abuse
unconditionally, or do they teach something else? Explain your
answer.
50
THURSDAY
August 5
Seeing Potential in Others
(Acts 15:36-41,
2 Tim. 4:11).
Unfortunately, we do not always look for the best in others. We
often tend to see the things others cannot do rather than the things
they could do if properly trained and challenged to do so! In our rela-
tionships with co-workers, we need to build on one another's
strengths rather than to focus primarily on one another's weaknesses.
What
kind of people did Christ choose as His disciples? What does
that teach us?
Matt. 4:18-22, 9:9, Luke 5:1-11.
It has often been remarked that very few of us would have chosen
these kind of men as our closest co-workers. But Christ saw the
potential in some uneducated fishermen, as well as in an unpopular
tax collector, and He challenged them to follow Him and work with
Him. They received three years of intensive training and then went out
into the world. Jesus
discovered
them and recognized a potential in
these men that few of us would have detected.
Paul
had a sharp disagreement with Barnabas about John Mark's
suitability for a leading role in the work of the church. Barnabas
believed there was potential in John Mark, while Paul pointed to
John Mark's weakness in the past.
See Acts 15:36-41, 2 Tim. 4:11.
What lessons are here for us (in the context of today's study)?
When we hear a sermon on these passages, there usually is sharp
criticism for Paul and praise for Barnabas. However, we owe it to Paul
to put ourselves for a moment in his shoes. John Mark deserted and
left Paul and Barnabas when they reached Pamphylia on their first
missionary journey, even before the task was completed. It stands to
reason that Paul did not want to run the risk that this would happen
again.
In our day and age, we tend to argue as Paul did. If we have a
choice, we do not continue with someone who has let us down at a
crucial moment. Yet, on the other hand, how many of us know people
who never again faltered when given a second chance to prove them-
selves? Maybe we ourselves have been such a person.
Dwelling on the lesson for today, ask yourself, Have I too
quickly written off someone who has failed me in the past,
either in the workplace or in any other situation?
51
FRIDAY
August
6
Further Study:
"If you have taken advantage in your business
dealings, which the Lord calls injustice, this must be adjusted before
you can be honest and righteous in the sight of God. These things
need to be corrected by our people everywhere. . . . When you take
up this work of readjustment and getting right with God, angels of
heaven will cooperate with you, giving you discernment to see where
you have viewed matters in a wrong light....
"The Lord can not bless the men who corrupt themselves by unjust
business dealings, either with their brethren or with worldlings. And
those who do such things lose their spirituality; they grow cold and
formal and selfish. They gloss over their past mistakes by theories of
their own invention that are opposed to the principles of the Word of
God."—Ellen G. White,
This Day With God,
p. 343.
Discussion Questions:
O
Putting aside the obvious things that involve outright crime
or vice, are there certain
respectable
jobs that Christians, in
good conscience, cannot do? If so, what are they, and why should
a Christian in good conscience not do these kinds of work?
Suppose your boss asked you to work on Sabbath; you said
you couldn't but knew someone else in the office who would take
your place. Suppose, however, your boss asked you to steal or lie,
and you said you couldn't but knew someone else in the office
who would take your place. What, if any, is the difference
between the two situations?
Summary:
As Christians, we bring our religion with us as we enter
the workplace. Though there are usually limits to the amount of open
discussion about religious subjects that can take place, we must still
operate only with Christian values. Working together with others in a
positive spirit is high on our agenda. Absolute honesty and
integrity—as well as love, compassion, and justice—will characterize
our conduct. And while we seek to display these values ourselves, we
will also try to bring out the best in others and do what we can to
make them realize their full potential.
52
INSIDES
tag
Turning Opposition
Into Blessing
b
y
J.
H.
ZACHARY
The Volga Conference in Russia is a challenging field in which to work.
A lingering communist influence, a strong national church, and several
Muslim communities in the area make this a difficult area to penetrate
with the gospel. In 1999 the director of Global Mission for the conference
and two volunteers went to a town of 45,000 citizens and began scattering
seeds of faith. This town has three large national churches. The Adventists
had not been in the region long when the priests of these three churches
set out to work to oppose them.
When the Adventists began holding evangelistic meetings in the
town, the police arrested them and took them to headquarters for ques-
tioning. But when they checked the Adventists' papers and found every-
thing in order, they had to release the trio. Later the Adventists learned
that one of the priests with close ties to the police had requested their
arrest.
The next day while the Adventists were shopping, a gang of rough-
looking young men threatened them, "Leave our city within 24 hours, or
you will die!"
"We are not afraid of you:' the pastor told the gang members. "We are
not breaking any laws. We will stay and hold our meetings."
Soon posters appeared throughout the city warning the residents of the
"great danger" from the "Seventh-day Adventist sect" that had invaded
their town. "Be careful. Do not attend their meetings. Do not associate
with them," the posters warned.
When one woman saw the poster, tears filled her eyes. "Thank God my
prayers have been answered," she exclaimed.
The woman, an Adventist, and her husband had moved to this city a
year before. She had been praying that God would send some Adventists
to her.
She urged her husband to attend the meetings with her. At the close of
the meetings, 27 persons took their stand for Christ, and a company was
organized.
The next year another evangelistic series was planned. The police
chief gave them permission to hold their meetings and told them to fear
no disturbances.
From one community to another in this difficult area, God is spreading
the message in unentered areas in spite of strong opposition.
.1 H.
ZACHARY
is coordinator of international evangelism for
The Quiet Hour.
Produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Dept. _ ,
Email:qomission@qc.adventist.orq
Do you sometimes want to take the pulse
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still among the living? Well, let us help you open
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There are also leadership tips, Investment ideas,
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Get your hands on a copy of
Sabbath School
Leadership
and get ready to rouse the saints.
Order through your Sabbath School secretary, or call your Adventist Book Center at 1-800-765-6955.
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*
N
This Sabbath
What's Missing?
A Church Building.
Thousands of new Christians across India
do not have a
church in which to worship. A church building gives
credibility to the church. Your offering will help build a
solid foundation for worship and evangelism.
Missi
The Thirteenth Sabbath Offering on September 25
supports projects in the Southern Asia Division.
LESSON
7
*August 7-13
Respect
for
Authorities
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Week's Study:
Matt. 5:13-16, 22:15-21,
Acts 5:29, Rom. 13:1-5, 1 Pet. 2:13-15.
Memory Text:
"Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the
authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also
because of conscience"
(Romans 13:5, NIV).
O
ne of the greatest questions facing the church is the issue of
political involvement. How do people in the world but "not of
the world"
(John 17:14)
relate to the political challenges pre-
sented by the world? History is replete with examples of churches that
have kept silent during times of great moral and political crises; his-
tory, however, also bears a sad witness to what happens when
churches take upon themselves political prerogatives that place them
decidedly upon the side of evil.
This week we look at the complex and often difficult question of
how Christians are to relate to the political issues of the day. Because
Christians exist in all sorts of political environments, we can look
only at broad principles; in fact, the Bible gives us only broad princi-
ples. Perhaps that's because the Lord, knowing the various and often
delicate situations His people would be facing through the centuries,
revealed principles broad enough to be used in any environment.
The Week at a Glance:
What kind of influence should
Christians have in society? How should Christians relate to the
political process? Should Christians be in government? What
principles should we follow in seeking to balance our obligations
as citizens with our obligations to the Lord?
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 14.
56
SUNDAY
August 8
Sanctified Caution
(Matt. 5:13-16).
Many Christians believe we should give up on the world. The world
is so evil, so confused, and so estranged from God's original purpose
that there is no hope of turning the situation around. Plus, the more
we are involved with the world, the greater the chances we will
become even more contaminated by it. Withdrawal is the only option
for those who want to remain faithful to the Lord. This argument may
sound plausible, but is it biblical?
What
role does God expect a Christian to play in
society?
Matt. 5:13-16.
Christians must do all they can to make a difference in society.
They are called to give a more pleasant taste to the world around them
and to provide spiritual light. As someone once said: "It is better to
light one candle than to curse the darkness!"
In early Adventism, the question was often asked whether it would
be right for an Adventist Christian to go to the ballot box. Today, most
Seventh-day Adventists do recognize that it is their privilege to cast
their vote in democratic elections and referendums in an attempt to
help promote an agenda that is closest to upholding kingdom values.
How we do this, of course, isn't always easy; much depends not only
upon our political and social environment, which can vary greatly
from country to country, but also on what individual members believe
regarding which agenda best upholds
kingdom values.
Because these
questions can be so fraught with many potential hazards, as believers
we should always proceed with
sanctified caution
when it comes to
dealing with social and political issues.
How
do you balance the verses quoted above in Matthew with texts
such as 2 Corinthians 6:17 or James 4:4?
The issue for most Christians isn't that we should seek to bet-
ter whatever society we find ourselves in, but rather, How do we
best do that in a way that doesn't compromise our witness or
our obligations to the Lord? As with so many things, we need to
strike a correct balance, which is not always easy. At such times,
when these questions can have a very powerful impact for good
or evil upon the church or upon society as a whole, members,
more than ever, need to seek the guidance of the Lord and the
counsel of others in how to best proceed.
57
MONDAY
August 9
Christians in Government?
Imagine your nation is overrun by a foreign power that occupies
your land, defeats your army, kills thousands of civilians, levels
numerous cities, and takes many prisoners. Imagine, next, that one of
those prisoners not only becomes a favorite of the very ruler who
destroyed your nation but actually serves that ruler faithfully for
many years. Most people would deem this person a traitor, would
they not?
Who
is the Bible character described above?
The answer, of course, is Daniel
(see Daniel 1; 2:48, 49),
whose
story (among those of others) raises all sorts of interesting questions
regarding the role of faithful people who are in positions of political
power and authority.
What
other biblical hero became a powerful
political figure?
Gen.
41:41-44.
Though, no doubt, the world of politics offers many potential pitfalls
for any Christian, there have been those who have faithfully served in
government positions. Indeed, even in our own church, Seventh-day
Adventists have been involved in government. For a number of years a
Seventh-day Adventist Christian served as the prime minister of
Uganda. In Papua New Guinea, Seventh-day Adventists form a sizable
percentage of the population, and, thus, it should not surprise us that
there are many church members in high government positions. The
same is true for several of the small island states in the Pacific. And
even in countries where Adventists are less numerous when compared
to the size of the population, we now find Seventh-day Adventists as
members of Parliament or in other high positions.
Think about this: We believe God's law is a transcript of His
character; that is, the law He has given us reflects the kind of
God He is. With this idea in mind, why would we be better off
living in a nation where Christians are involved in the political
process, the very process that originates the laws of the country?
At the same time, what potential dangers arise from those who
seek to use government power to promote a religious agenda?
58
TUES
1) kV
August 10
Obedience, Yes . . . But
(Acts 5:29, Rom. 13:1-5).
Read
Romans 13:1-5 and 1 Peter 2:13-15. What attitude toward
political leaders do they admonish Christians to have?
Read
Acts 5:29 and Romans 13:7. How do these verses help us better
understand the texts quoted in the previous question?
There's no question that Christians, in whatever land they are in,
should be good citizens, obeying the laws of their country. At the
same time, as followers of the Lord, they answer to a higher Power,
One greater than the government, to whom they are to give all due
honor and respect, tribute, and custom
(see Rom. 13:6, 7).
At the same
time, we must not forget that Paul and Peter died at the hands of the
very authorities they were telling their people to obey. Obviously,
then, respect for authority and obedience to the government have their
limits.
Indeed, one powerful example comes from the history of the United
States. In the nineteenth century, when the issue of slavery was divid-
ing the Christians in the United States, Ellen G. White made it no
secret as to where she stood.
"When the laws of men conflict with the word and law of God, we
are to obey the latter, whatever the consequences may be. The law of
our land requiring us to deliver a slave to his master, we are not to
obey; and we must abide the consequences of violating this law. The
slave is not the property of any man. God is his rightful master, and
man has no right to take God's workmanship into his hands, and claim
him as his own."—Ellen G. White,
Testimonies for the Church, vol.
1,
pp. 201, 202.
Throughout the years, there have been many examples of civil
disobedience, of people purposely violating the law of their land
in order to bring about political change. What potential dangers
await Christians who get involved in such action? At the same
time, what situations might exist where their Christian duty
demands they get involved?
59
WEDNESDAY
August 11
Paying Taxes
(Matt. 22:15-21).
Few people, if any, like to pay high taxes. But in any modern soci-
ety, the state must have large amounts of money to pay for the things
a government is expected to provide: education, basic health care,
roads, tunnels, bridges, police, armed forces, and so on. We may ques-
tion whether the taxes should be as high as they often are, but we can-
not question the legitimacy of being taxed.
What
did both Jesus and Paul say about the legitimacy of taxation by
the authorities?
Matt. 22:15-21; Rom. 13:6, 7.
The tax referred to in Matthew 22 was "payable into the imperial
exchequer, imposed on every inhabitant of the country from the time
of puberty until the age of sixty-five. It was resented by the Jews as a
repeated reminder of the fact that they were subject to foreign power
in their own land.
"The attitude to the payment of taxes remained a moot issue in the
early church. Paul finds it still necessary, nearly thirty years later than
this, to lay down the rule for Christians. The authority of the state is
divinely ordained, and the payment of taxes is to be made 'for the sake
of conscience.' "—Francis Wright Beare,
The Gospel According to
Matthew
(Oxford, Eng.: Basil Blackwell, 1981), p. 439.
What
other principle comes into play when we deal with our taxes?
Luke 16:10-12, 2 Cor 13:7.
We must show honesty and integrity in all our financial dealings.
This principle also extends to what we can receive from or must pay
to the government. It is dishonest to claim a benefit to which we are
not entitled, and it is just as wrong to withhold from
Caesar
what is
his due.
Of course, we may use all legitimate means to lower our taxes. But
making false claims and defrauding the government are as much a
dishonesty as stealing from our employer or from our neighbor. A
Christian cannot be expected to smile when his or her taxes are higher
than expected, but he or she can be expected to be honest.
Suppose you have cheated on your taxes in the past. What can
you do to make restitution?
60
THURSDAY
August 12
Promoting Christian Values
The Seventh-day Adventist Church always has been strongly
opposed to any interference by the state in the affairs of churches and
other religious communities and, vice versa, the meddling by organ-
ized religion in matters of government. Individual members may
choose to serve their country in a high office, but the Adventist Church
believes that, as a corporate body, it should stay away from politics.
This does not mean, however, that the church has no interest in the
values that are promoted in society and that it should not make its
voice heard on moral issues that affect society. It would be wrong to
impose some of our values on others, but it would be equally wrong
not to present a strong witness with regard to the values we believe
would make the world a better place in which to live. It is not always
an easy balance to find.
What examples can we find in the Bible of faithful followers of the
Lord who sought to bring about a change in government policy?
Exod. 5:1-3
Esther 7:1-7
Dan. 2:24-27
Besides these examples, the Bible, particularly the Old Testament,
is filled with examples of the prophets attempting to influence gov-
ernment policy; that is, to try to get the rulers to turn away from apos-
tasy and to follow the Lord. Of course, the times back then were
radically different from any we face today. Nevertheless, there's noth-
ing wrong with Christians seeking to use their influence toward help-
ing bring about positive moral and social changes. The difficult ques-
tions arise, however, concerning just what changes a church should
seek to bring about and how a church should implement these
changes. Not everything that's sinful should be made illegal, a dis-
tinction Christians in all ages have not always understood. Where to
draw the line has been and still is a difficult question for the church
to answer. Thus, as mentioned earlier, this is a topic in which
sancti-
fied caution
must be used.
What have been your own attitudes toward church involvement
in politics? Do you tend to be an aggressive advocate of involve-
ment, or do you think the church should shy away from these
issues? What reasons do you have for the position you take?
61
FRIDAY
August 13
Further Study:
"Christ's reply was no evasion, but a candid
answer to the question. Holding in His hand the Roman coin, upon
which were stamped the name and image of Caesar, He declared that
since they were living under the protection of the Roman power, they
should render to that power the support it claimed, so long as this did
not conflict with a higher duty. But while peaceably subject to the
laws of the land, they should at all times give their first allegiance to
God."—Ellen G. White,
The Desire ofAges,
p. 602.
Discussion Questions:
0
Ellen White was very active in the temperance movement in
the United States. In fact, she was so strongly in favor of banning
alcohol (prohibition) that she encouraged people to vote for pro-
hibition—even if the vote was held on Sabbath. " 'Shall we vote
for prohibition?' she asked. 'Yes, to a man, everywhere,' she
replied, 'and perhaps I shall shock some of you if I say, If neces-
sary, vote on the Sabbath day for prohibition if you cannot at any
other time.' "—A. L. White,
Ellen G. White: The Lonely Years
(Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 1984), vol. 1,
p. 160. Discuss the implications of her stance in the context of
this week's lesson.
Is it legitimate, or even a duty, for the church to speak out on
some moral issues, even if this may draw the church into a polit-
ical debate?
Though living at a time of great political corruption, Jesus
said very little about the political issues of His day. What lessons
can we draw from His example? What lessons should we not
draw from that example?
Summary:
Christians are citizens of the heavenly kingdom first, but
they are most definitely also citizens of their own country and are to
accept their part of the responsibility all citizens should share. The
principle of rendering to Caesar what is his and to God what is God's
gives us a broad outline from which Christians are to work in what-
ever land they reside.
62
INSIDES
tory
Two-Banana War
by BONNIE NORTON
and TREVOR ROBINSON
Too often it takes very little to start a war, and in the highlands of Papua
New Guinea, it took only two bananas. When two Adventist pilots flew
into an isolated village in the highlands of PNG, they discovered almost
the entire village burned to the ground. Slowly they pieced together the
story.
About two weeks earlier two friends from the village had gone to Port
Moresby, the major city on the southern coast. One man had two bananas,
but the other man had brought nothing to eat. In the morning Friend A
awoke to discover one of his bananas was missing. Friend B denied hav-
ing taken the banana, but Friend A was not convinced. In his mind he
vowed that he would get revenge for the stolen banana.
The night that the two men returned to their village, Friend A sneaked
out and set Friend B's hut on fire. The grass-mat sides and grass roof
erupted into a ball of flame and burned to the ground in minutes.
Thankfully, no one was killed. But Friend B knew who had done this and
he vowed revenge.
The next night Friend B set Friend A's hut afire. Friend A called his clan
members together, and that night they set fire to all the huts that belonged
to Friend B's clan. In turn, Friend B and his clan set fire to clan A's huts.
The remaining villagers could not stand to watch the excitement, so they
took sides. Friend A's supporters set fire to Friend B's supporters' huts, and
Friend B's supporters set fire to Friend A's supporters' huts. Soon nothing
was standing except the little Adventist church.
Even the church seemed doomed when a man ran toward it with a burn-
ing torch in his hand. Then suddenly the man tripped and fell. He landed
on a sharp stick poking out of the ground. The raging villagers stopped in
their tracks. "God is watching out for His church!" they cried. "Which one
of us would dare set fire to God's church?"
And so, if you fly into that village today, you will see our lone little
Adventist church standing amidst a burned-out village. It stands as a
reminder that amidst human frailties and passions, God stands waiting to
change hearts and lives into the likeness of His Son.
BONNIE NORTON lives in Goroka, Papua New Guinea, with her husband, Adventist Aviation
Services pilot Bill Norton. TREVOR ROBINSON works as a nurse at Sydney Adventist Hospital
and is a missionary pilot in his free time.
Produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Dept.
Email:gomission@gc.adventist.org
63
LESSON
8
*August 14-20
Christ's Other
Sheep
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Week's Study: John
10:16; John 13:34,
35; 1 Corinthians 13; 2 Pet. 1:12; Rev. 14:1-12.
Memory Text:
"I have other sheep that are not of this sheep
pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and
there shall be one flock and one shepherd"
(John 10:16, NIV).
H
owever committed we should be to our message, we mustn't
read more into it than is there, such as the belief that we alone
as Seventh-day Adventists are saved. That view has not, nor
has ever been, the official position of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church: "We recognize those agencies that lift up Christ before men
as a part of the divine plan for evangelization of the world, and we
hold in high esteem Christian men and women in other communions
who are engaged in winning souls to
Christ."—General Conference
Working Policy
(1999-2000), p. 494, Policy 0 100, art. 1. The ques-
tion for us this week is How should we relate to these other
Christians, those who, for all we know, have been redeemed by the
blood of Christ?
The Week at a Glance:
If you don't have to be an
Adventist to be saved, why should we seek to reach other
Christians with our beliefs? What advantages does our faith give
us over those who might be Christians but in another denomina-
tion? How should we relate to other Christians?
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 21.
64
SUNDAY
August 15
Other Sheep
Read John 10:16. What point was Jesus making here? (Keep in mind
to whom He was speaking.) What principle can we, today, pull from
His words, especially in the basic context of this week's lesson?
For any of us to proclaim dogmatically who is or is not saved is to
play God. It is to take prerogatives that belong only to Him. The Lord
alone knows the heart; the Lord alone can judge motives; the Lord
alone knows those who are His. As Seventh-day Adventists, we are
called to preach our message to the world; we are not called to pass
judgment upon who is or is not saved.
"God has children, many of them, in the Protestant churches, and a
large number in the Catholic churches, who are more true to obey the
light and to do [to] the very best of their knowledge than a large num-
ber among Sabbathkeeping Adventists who do not walk in the
light."—Ellen G. White,
Selected Messages,
book 3, p. 386.
What are the following texts saying that help reinforce the point the
Lord made in John 10:16?
Mark 9:38-40
Acts 10:35
2 Tim. 2:19
The fact is that, all over the world, the Lord has His faithful people,
those who are living in accordance with all the light they have. Our
job, in a sense, is to give them more light, to lead them into light that
points more directly to Jesus Christ and the events surrounding His
return. All people, no matter of what faith, need to hear what we have
to say. How people respond is, basically, between them and God. All
we can do is preach, teach, and reveal to people in our lives the love
and grace of God.
If you don't have to be an Adventist to be saved, then what's the
purpose of trying to evangelize? Keep in mind Revelation 14:12
as you answer.
65
MONDAY'
August 16
Present Truth
How did you answer the last question in Sunday's study? If you
don't have to be an Adventist to be saved, then why should we bother
even trying to witness to Christians of other denominations? After all,
salvation comes only from Jesus Christ and what He did for human-
ity at the Cross; it doesn't come from joining any particular religious
community, including our own. Thus, why bother witnessing to
Christians in churches other than our own?
Read
2 Peter 1:12. What insights does that, though expressed in a
context different from ours today, give us regarding our Seventh-
day Adventist message and the need for us to spread it around the
world?
The fact remains that no one else is preaching what we as Seventh-
day Adventists are preaching. And this point becomes important,
especially in the context of the last days, when the whole world is to
be divided into those who fit the description in Revelation 14:12 and
those who don't.
Read
Revelation 14:1-12. What's at stake here?
As Seventh-day Adventists, we have been called to preach to every-
one the three angels' messages of Revelation 14. Christ's other sheep
need to know the things we know; they need to understand how the
deep issues in the great controversy between Christ and Satan are going
to be manifested at the close of time. We have been called to point these
people not only to the texts that make prominent the "faith of Jesus" but
to the "commandments of God," with the special emphasis on the
fourth commandment. Again, because we don't know the hearts of any-
one, we must tell everyone—"faithful Christians" in other denomina-
tions—the present-truth message as found in Revelation 14. They need
to know what we know, especially as we near the closing crisis.
Read Revelation 18:4. Whom is the Lord calling out of Babylon,
and why? How does this text help us better understand how we
are to relate to faithful Christians of other denominations?
66
TUESDAY
August 17
The Adventist Difference: Part 1
However important the issues surrounding the mark of the beast (as
depicted in Revelation 14), our message isn't just limited to warnings
about end-time persecution. There's so much we have been given that
can be a blessing in a very practical and personal way now. That's why
we must share it, even with Christians of other denominations.
Below are some texts that are tied in with our message. Write
down some of the benefits we have, here and now, from under-
standing these important truths:
Exod. 20:8-11
Eccles. 9:10
Mal. 3:8-10
Rom. 8:34; Heb. 8:1, 2
1 Cor 6:19
Though, of course, some of these truths are understood, to some
degree, by various Christians, we alone have them tied nicely into a
complete package. And, indeed, these special
Adventist
truths don't
depict mere marginal differences with other Christians. They repre-
sent important biblical concepts, and people who do not know about
them miss out on something that can make a major difference in their
Christian experience. The Adventist message helps us to know where
we are in human history. It unveils the great-controversy perspective,
which shows us the larger picture of what God is doing for our rebel-
lious planet. It tells us about the ongoing heavenly ministry of Jesus
Christ and the hope He presents for us as erring sinners.
The Adventist message also helps us to follow through on our com-
mitment to Christ in very concrete ways: in finding physical and spir-
itual rest on God's holy day, in living a life of faithful stewardship of
all that has been entrusted to us, and in learning how to take care of
our bodies while we're still in this mortal clay.
If asked by a Christian of another denomination how the
Adventist faith is different from what most other evangelical
Christians believe, what would you say?
67
WEDNESDAY
August 18
The Adventist Difference: Part 2
Just because someone is a Christian doesn't mean there's no more
truth for him or her to learn. On the contrary. Many of Paul's letters were
written to Christians, often on the assumption that these people already
knew the Lord and were already in the faith. Indeed, most of the New
Testament was written to those already in the faith. Nevertheless, that
didn't stop Paul (and the others) from giving the churches more light.
Read
Romans 1:1-7, Galatians 1:1-5, Ephesians 1:1-4, 1 Thessalo-
nians 4:13-18. How do these texts help affirm the above paragraph?
As we relate to other Christians, we must remember: The issue isn't
that we judge who's saved and who isn't (remember the Ellen White
quote in Sunday's section); rather, the issue is, Do we have something
to say, not just to the world at large but to other Christians? The
answer, of course, is that we most definitely do.
For instance, millions of Christians believe the dead go right to
heaven or right to hell immediately at death. Others believe in purga-
tory, where the dead are purged from worldliness before entering into
heaven. Most of these people have no protection, therefore, against
spiritualism of any kind, and who knows how many fear that right now
some loved ones are suffering the flames of eternal torment?
Others believe final events will unfold with a massive Mideast war,
in which some future antichrist power will make a pact with the Jews
in Israel, an event that will begin a seven-year tribulation period,
before which all true Christians are taken to heaven. Most who believe
this way have no concept as to how final events regarding Rome,
America, and the issue of the Sabbath will unfold.
All over the world, many Christians have no knowledge of health
principles; thus, they eat, drink, and live like so much of the non-
Christian world.
Millions of others believe salvation can be found in Jesus only
through the mediation of their church body and that they must perform
various works in order for the merits of Christ to be applied to them.
Most of the Christian world totally ignore not just the seventh-day
Sabbath but the whole concept of a serious rest day. Not only do they
miss out on the spiritual blessings of the Sabbath but they also miss
out on the physical renewal that Sabbath keeping offers.
What other things do we as Seventh-day Adventists teach that
could be a blessing, even now, to other Christians?
68
THURSDAY
A
ugust 19
Love One Another
"A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this
shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to
another"
(John 13:34, 35).
Read
the above quote, the words of Jesus. How are all to know who
are Christ's disciples? How well have His disciples followed that
command?
There's no question: Christians are to show their love to one
another. Sadly, that has hardly been the case. History is filled with
examples not just of hatred between different churches but of vio-
lence, as well.
Whatever the immediate context of Christ's words, we can hardly
believe they meant we were to love only those of our own denomina-
tion, whatever that denomination or church body happens to be. Love
should know no denominational boundaries and certainly not be limited
only to those who know the truth. Indeed, there's no more powerful wit-
ness for truth than the love compelled and generated by that truth.
Of course, loving someone isn't the same as agreeing to his or her
beliefs; rather, it's acknowledging the value of this person in the sight
of God and the commonality we have as followers of Jesus, however
different our expressions might at the present time be.
As Seventh-day Adventists, with the understanding we have been
given of God's love for us, particularly as revealed in the context of
present truth, we should be the most loving of all Christians. And
that's because to whom much has been given much is expected, and
because we have been given much, we should give much, not just to
the world at large but to our brothers and sisters in other churches, as
well. And nothing we can give means anything without love.
Examine your own relationship with Christians in other
churches. Do you look down on them? Do you see anything in
them that you could learn from them? Do you feel a need to tell
them what we know? Based on what we've studied this week, what
changes, if any, in your attitude toward them should you make?
69
FRIDAY
August 20
Further Study:
Ellen G. White has a lot to say about our atti-
tude to other Christians. See, for instance,
Evangelism,
section 17,
"Laboring for Special Classes," pp. 552-586.
"Our ministers should seek to come near to the ministers of other
denominations. Pray for and with these men, for whom Christ is inter-
ceding. A solemn responsibility is theirs. As Christ's messengers, we
should manifest a deep, earnest interest in these shepherds of the
flock." —Ellen G. White,
Testimonies for the Church,
vol. 6, p. 78.
"You may have opportunity to speak in other churches. In improv-
ing these opportunities, remember the words of the Saviour, 'Be ye
therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.' Do not arouse the
malignity of the enemy by making denunciatory speeches. Thus you
will close doors against the entrance of truth. Clear-cut messages are
to be borne. But guard against arousing antagonism. There are many
souls to be saved. Restrain all harsh expressions. In word and deed be
wise unto salvation, representing Christ to all with whom you come
in contact. Let all see that your feet are shod with the preparation of
the gospel of peace and good will to men. Wonderful are the results
we shall see if we enter into the work imbued with the Spirit of Christ.
Help will come in our necessity if we carry the work forward in right-
eousness, mercy, and love. Truth will triumph, and bear away the vic-
tory."—Ellen G. White,
Evangelism,
pp. 563, 564.
Discussion Questions:
O
Imagine that you are given the pulpit in another church; it
will be your only opportunity to preach there. What would you
say, what wouldn't you say, and why?
Is it wrong to worship with Christians in their church on
Sunday, or not? Justify your answer.
Summary:
All our relationships with other Christians should be
marked by warm respect for them as brothers and sisters in the Lord.
But, at the same time, we must also be sure of our reason for existence
as Seventh-day Adventists, and we must be ready, when the right
opportunity arises, to tell them the things we believe that they need to
know. And, just as important, they need to see in our lives the reality
of our experience with Christ, a reality that will be manifested by our
unconditional love.
70
ivimmarimiehliA
INSIDE StOrli
"••
••••""
Drug Addict
Finds Jesus
by
H
.Z
ACHARY
J.
For
For ten miserable years Svetlana was a drug addict. She searched for
ways to overcome her addictions, but even medical professionals could not
help her. Desperate, Svetlana prayed, "God, if You exist, please help me."
God heard her prayers, and she felt the stranglehold of drugs begin to
weaken.
Svetlana sought out a church. She hoped to find someone there who
would talk with her, pray with her, and help her.
But not even one person talked to her. Disappointed, she left.
Svetlana became discouraged. Even though drugs no longer had a hold
on her, she still searched for peace.
Eventually she turned to alcohol, and she quickly sank into another
addiction. When she contracted tuberculosis, she gave up hope and pre-
pared to die.
One day some Adventist neighbors visited her and offered to help her.
But she had heard that Adventists were a sect, and she refused their help.
For three years she refused their offers of help and prayer. Finally, in des-
peration, she agreed to listen to them and let them pray for her. She went
to church with them.
Svetlana was touched when the church members prayed for her by
name. After church one woman gave her a Bible and a copy of
Steps to
Christ.
As she read them her life began to change.
When Svetlana went to her next doctor's appointment, the doctor found
no trace of tuberculosis. She had been healed.
The emptiness that Svetlana had tried to fill with drugs and alcohol was
now filled with the peace of God. Her old life was transformed, and her
former friends noticed. "What has happened to you? You are like a differ-
ent person," they told her.
Recently Svetlana was baptized. Because the nearest Adventist
church is some distance from her home, she has opened her home for
a small group of believers to meet on Sabbaths. Half of the people who
attend the services are drug addicts. These former friends have seen
the change in Svetlana and want to receive God's help in their lives, as
well.
One of her former addict friends has accepted Jesus as Savior and now
is drug free. "I thank God for the Adventists who did not give up on me
when I refused their help. Now Jesus is giving me the opportunity to help
my friends find a new life also:' Svetlana testifies.
J. H. ZACHARY is coordinator of international evangelism for
The Quiet Hour.
Produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Dept.
Email:gomission@gc.adventist.org
71
LESSON
9
*August 21-27
How to Relate
to
Non-Christians
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Week's Study:
John 14:6; Acts 4:12;
Rom. 1:18-20; 2:14-16; Phil. 2:5-11; Rev. 14:6, 7.
Memory Text:
"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no
other name under heaven given to men by which we must be
saved"
(Acts 4:12, NIV).
m
any people today no longer want to hear about absolute
truth. The various religions, including the Christian faith,
are seen as equally valid ways to reach the beyond. Many
claim that, in essence, we all worship the same God—we simply have
different historically and culturally conditioned ways of doing so.
Everyone should be allowed to have his or her own truth. And no
belief system should claim superiority over another.
As Christians, of course, we reject that concept. The very nature of
our Christianity demands we do. We maintain that the religion of
Christ is unique and that we must continue to call people everywhere
to become His disciples.
The question, then, remains for us: How should we relate to those
who are not of the Christian faith? This week we look at some broad
principles regarding this important topic.
The Week at a Glance:
Why, as Christians, must we
reject the notion that all religions are valid? How should we treat
non-Christians? What's the best way to witness to them? Why
should we witness to them? To whom does the three angels' mes-
sages go?
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, August 28.
72
SUNDAY
August 22
Incurably Religious
All through human history, in almost every culture, in every age,
even in the most adverse and trying conditions, humans have had
belief in some sort of god or gods. Through the centuries the question
has been asked: Where does this belief come from? Was religion
"invented" or "discovered"? Does humanity's belief in God originate
in humanity itself, as a projection of some inner need? Has
humankind always been religious? And if so, why so?
As Christians, we believe that religion originated with God, who
has revealed Himself to us in various ways, the greatest revelation
being that of Jesus Christ coming in the flesh, where He revealed to
us the love and self-sacrificing character of the Lord.
Not everyone, though, has heard or known the good news of the
love and character of our Lord. And yet, God has not forsaken these
people, either. Remember, at the Cross, Christ died for the sins of
the whole world
(1 John 2:2);
His death, by default, excluded no
one
(John 3:16);
He suffered death for every person
(Heb. 2:9).
No
one was left out, not even those who have never heard, nor will ever
hear, of Christ's death, at least in this life. Why would the Lord die
in their behalf if they weren't, somehow, offered the option of sal-
vation?
Read
Romans 1:18-20, 2:14-16. What do these texts tell us about
those who haven't heard directly about Jesus and the salvation He
offers? Are they still accountable to God, and, if so, why?
Those who consciously turn their backs on God do so at their eter-
nal risk, that's for certain. But many have always lived in
darkness
through no fault of their own. Yet, even these people have had a lim-
ited revelation of God and, thus, will be held responsible only for
what they knew in their deepest of hearts.
English poet Samuel Coleridge once suggested that instead of
locking criminals in jail, the offenders should be placed in
nature, where, seeing the natural world's "soft influences," they
would turn from their evil ways. However nice an idealized and
romantic view of the natural world this is, what are its flaws?
What are the limits of what we can know about God, truth, and
morality from nature alone?
73
MONDAY
August 23
The Universal Claims
Read
John 14:6. What is Jesus saying? Why would many people,
especially in today's world, find such words so hard to accept?
The religion of the Bible knows nothing of the notion of relativism,
of each person seeking his or her own version of
truth.
There is only
one God, one Creator, one Redeemer, one Lawgiver, and one means
of salvation. Given the very nature of what we believe as Christians—
that
all
the world is fallen into sin and that at the Cross Jesus Christ
bore the sins of
all
people upon Himself—it's hard to see how there
can be different
truths
for different folk. The very claims of the Bible
regarding Creation, Redemption, sin, are universal, encompassing
every human being. Given these claims, then, it's not realistic to
assume that every other spiritual or religious path is valid, as long as
those who are on these paths act from a sincere and loving heart.
Look up
the following texts. What point do they make about the
universality of the claims of the Bible?
Gen. 1:1, Rom. 3:23, 5:12,
Heb. 2:9, Rev. 20:13.
What all this means, then, is that we, as Christians, should preach
to non-Christians, sharing with them what we believe. If Christianity
is true, then other religions have to be false. This doesn't mean there
isn't some good in these faiths, and we certainly aren't in a position
to judge the hearts of others, whatever their beliefs. Instead, because
of the universal claims of Christianity, we must, in meekness, humil-
ity, and love tell others the good news of a loving God who sent His
own Son into human flesh and in that flesh ransomed the world from
sin. The claims of the Cross included everyone; everyone, therefore,
must be told about it.
How do you respond to someone who makes the claim, "Well,
your religion is just
your
truth; I have my own truth"? What's
wrong with that statement?
74
TUESDAY
August 24
Christ—the Only Way
(Acts 4:12).
It is often pointed out that other religions also have their heroes,
just as Christianity has Christ. And, indeed, we must have great
respect for Muhammad, who insisted—in a highly polytheistic soci-
ety—upon the worship of one God. Who can't help respecting and
admiring the Gautama Buddha's compassion and sensitivity to human
suffering? And there's much good, too, in the profound teachings of
Confucius.
But these people do not begin to compare with Jesus Christ, not in
who they were nor in what they accomplished, nor even claimed to
accomplish, for the world. To suggest that Jesus and these other peo-
ple are simply different versions of good men teaching good things is
to pervert the basic teaching of Scripture grossly. The Bible teaches
that Jesus is the Savior of the world. Either we accept the claim fully,
or we reject it fully. It's hard to see, with such a claim, how there can
be any middle ground, any compromise.
What
fundamental truth must we recognize when comparing
Christianity with other religions?
Acts 4:12; see also Isa. 45:5.
It's precisely because of the universality of what Christ has done
that, as Christians—having now been redeemed by Jesus
(Eph. 1:7,
Col. 1:14, Heb. 9:12)—we
should be motivated to tell others in order
that they, by faith, can share in the promises of God made to them, as
well.
"How then should we relate to those of other religions? First of
all, we must treat them as fellow human beings—with respect and
honor. . . . We need to approach them with openness, ready to listen
and learn. In our finiteness we do not have all that we need at any
point in our experience. Different points of emphasis may help to
strengthen our own experience. Nor should we apologize for what we
believe or our conviction that we have truth in having Jesus Christ.
Never should we hesitate to witness to another. But our efforts must
always reflect humility and avoid a spirit of triumphalism or a subtle
attitude of imperialism."—S. Kubo,
The God of Relationships
(Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald® Pub. Assn., 1993), p. 138.
How do you show respect for people and for their personal faith
and integrity, while at the same time rejecting their beliefs? Or
can you?
75
WEDNESDAY
August 25
All Things to All Men
Though the truths of what we believe are eternal and unchanging,
the context in which we spread those truths is always changing. The
approach one would take with an Indian shaman wouldn't be the same
as with a New Age German banker; the witness to a Canadian Inuit
living in the far end of the Yukon wouldn't be the same as with a
Singaporean business executive. Though the message is the same, the
methods often vary.
How
did the apostle Paul apply this basic principle in his ministry?
Acts 16:1-3, 1 Cor 9:19-23.
How does that explain his actions in
Jerusalem?
Acts 21:17-26.
What principle of ministry do we see
here by Paul's words and actions? Remember, too, that he is the
same man who wrote Galatians 1:8, 9.
"More than 2 billion of the world's population will hear the gospel
only if cross-cultural missionaries will make themselves servants and
become all things to them. From tribes in Africa to heavy-metal rock-
ers in the 'jungles' of New York City, from the sophisticated profes-
sional to the troubled teenager next door, people desperately need to
hear the gospel in a context they can understand. Who will humble
themselves and become incarnate as slaves for the sake of these souls?
Who will go through the hard, risky business of contextualization so
others may clearly hear the gospel?"—Jon Dybdahl, "Cross-Cultural
Adaptation: How to Contextualize the Gospel,"
Ministry
(November
1992), p. 17.
In what
perfect
way
was this principle of reaching people where
they are realized in the ministry of our Savior?
Phil. 2:5-11.
Christ came to meet us where we are. He assumed human form.
He expressed Himself in human language. He became one of us.
If, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, the church wants
to reach the modern world with the message of Christ, it will
have to meet people where they are and speak the language of
the people of today and not of a century ago.
76
THURSDAY
August 26
Christ's Method Alone
We've tried to show this week a crucial point regarding the univer-
sality of our faith; we can't be true to what we believe without believ-
ing that these truths that offer us so much hope, offer that same hope
to every other human being. The nature of the claims cry out for us to
tell them to others. Indeed, that's an essential component of who we
are as Seventh-day Adventists. It's also why, through the grace of God,
we are in almost every country of the world.
Read
Revelation 14:6, 7, the first angel's message. What does it tell
us about whom we are to preach to?
That's every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, which would
include those of every faith. Our commission is set before us in no
uncertain terms.
At the same time, we must remember that no matter where people
live, no matter their religious faith, no matter their beliefs, we are all the
same, beings created in the image of God, beings who are sinners,
beings who have basic needs. As Seventh-day Adventist Christians, we
believe that the light that God has given us can help meet those needs
better than anything else the world has to offer. The better we seek to
meet those needs, the more we can reveal to the non-Christian world the
love and character of God, and the more effective our witness will be.
Look
at this quote from Ellen White: "Christ's method alone will
give
true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled
with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy
for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence.
Then He bade them, 'Follow Me.
"—The Ministry of Healing,
p.
143. Why would an approach like this be effective for whatever
people group we were seeking to reach?
The bottom line is that we live in a world filled with hurting, suf-
fering people; the good news is that we worship and know the Lord,
who cares about these people and their suffering. As Adventists, we
can minister to them, even from our own personal sufferings, and
point them to something better in this life, as well as to the only One
who can give them eternal life. This is our calling; to do anything else
would be unfaithful to that calling.
Talk to those in your church about
ways
to reach out to the non-
Christian faiths in your own community. What practical things
could you do to make a positive impact for the Lord?
77
FRIDAY
August 27
Further Study:
"Even among the heathen are those who have
cherished the spirit of kindness; before the words of life had fallen
upon their ears, they have befriended the missionaries, even minister-
ing to them at the peril of their own lives. Among the heathen are
those who worship God ignorantly, those to whom the light is never
brought by human instrumentality, yet they will not perish. Though
ignorant of the written law of God, they have heard His voice speak-
ing to them in nature, and have done the things that the law required.
Their works are evidence that the Holy Spirit has touched their hearts,
and they are recognized as the children of God."—Ellen G. White,
The
Desire ofAges,
p. 638.
"There is need of coming close to the people by personal effort. If
less time were given to sermonizing, and more time were spent in per-
sonal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be
relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and bereaved comforted, the
ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with
those that weep, and rejoice with those that rejoice. Accompanied by
the power of persuasion, the power of prayer, the power of the love of
God, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit."—Ellen G. White,
Counsels on Diet and Foods,
p. 458.
Discussion Questions:
0
Look at that last quote from Ellen White. How can your
church, as a whole, better manifest those principles in your com-
munity?
To what extent do believers hold the eternal destiny of non-
believers in their hands? Why did God choose to involve human
beings in His plan of salvation?
Summary:
As Christians, we do not believe that our faith is just one
path of many that ultimately leads to God. The Bible makes it clear
that there's only one path, and that's through Jesus. Thus, it becomes
crucial that we witness to those of every other faith, and the most
effective way to do that is through kind, loving, self-sacrificing serv-
ice. That's how we are to relate to non-Christians. It's also the essence
of who we should be as Seventh-day Adventists.
78
IN SIDE S
I
tall/
Freed
by
Ch
rist
By
ROMBEK SOKIRI LOGWORONG
"Do not burn us!" the evil spirits commanded Abuk Deng as she ironed
her employer's clothes. Abuk tried to ignore the spirits and continue with
her work, but the spirits threw her to the ground and tormented her for sev-
eral minutes before finally leaving her alone.
After the death of her husband, Abuk and her children fled to northern
Sudan to escape the ongoing civil war in the south. She left everything of
value in the village, taking only what she could fit into a small suitcase.
She carefully packed the eagle claws her husband had given her before he
died. "Take good care of them," he said, "for they will protect the family
from harm."
Abuk and her children arrived in Khartoum, and she found work as a maid.
But soon evil spirits took possession of her and demanded sacrifices. But
because she had no regular source of income and could not buy animals for
the spirits, they made her life miserable, disturbing her at work and threaten-
ing her. Abuk feared that the spirits would make her or her children sick.
She longed for deliverance from the spirits, and although she was not a
Christian, she let some Christians pray for her. But nothing happened.
Then an Adventist relative learned of Abuk's problem and asked the pas-
tor to pray for her. Abuk was not sure it would work, but she was willing
to try anything.
When the pastor and church members visited Abuk, they asked her
when the spirits had begun tormenting her. Abuk mentioned the eagle
claws, and the pastor explained to her that the eagle claws symbolized the
presence of the evil spirits and must be destroyed. He asked her to get
them. As Abuk retrieved the claws from the small suitcase, she screamed
loudly and started to shout at the visitors in unknown languages. The pas-
tor and church members prayed, asking God to set Abuk free from the
power of Satan. They continued praying until Abuk stopped shouting.
Abuk gave the pastor the eagle claws, and he destroyed them. Since then
Abuk has been free from the evil spirits that had tormented her. Today she
is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Khartoum, Sudan.
She no longer fears the evil spirits, for she has discovered the power of
Jesus Christ to free her from physical and spiritual bondage. She knows
the truth of the verse, "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed"
(John 8:36, NIV).
ROMBEK
LOGWORONG serves as accountant in the Egypt Field. Abuk Deng is a pseu-
donym.
Produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Dept.
Email: gomission gc.adventist.org
79
LESSON 10
*August 28—September 3
Loving Our
Enemies?
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Week's Study:Jet:
31:31-34, Matt. 5:44,
6:12, Luke 6:27-36, 23:1-34.
Memory Text:
"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live
at peace with everyone"
(Romans 12:18, NIV).
S
ome people have or claim to have only friends and no enemies;
some have no friends but only enemies. Most of us are some-
where in the middle: We have friends, but we also do not get
along with everybody. This may seem a simple fact of life, but, as
Christians, we cannot simply shrug our shoulders if our relationship
with some others is disrupted or if we harbor feelings of distrust, even
antipathy, toward some people. Nor should it leave us indifferent if
some people have problems with us. The Christian message of love
has relevance for our relationship with those whom we dislike or,
even worse, might even feel hateful toward.
We are admonished to "turn from evil and do good" and to "seek
peace and pursue it" in every way we can
(Ps. 34:14, NIV).
Though it
is important not to forget the larger picture, this week we'll focus on
ourselves and the way we relate to those with whom we have (shall we
put it kindly?) unresolved issues.
The Week at a Glance:
What does Christ's example on
the cross tell us about loving our enemies? How can we love our
enemies? Why should we do so? Why must we forgive before we
can love?
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 4.
80
SUNDAY
August 29
Jesus and His Enemies
"Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what
they do"
(Luke 23:34).
Read
Luke 23:1-34, reviewing the events that lead to Christ uttering
these incredible words. In light of all that was happening to Jesus,
how He was being treated, how He was being spoken to, how He
was being mocked, how He was being lied about, what powerful
lesson can we learn from this example regarding how we treat our
enemies?
Unrewarded, unaccepted, reviled, mocked, tortured, Jesus has every
reason to hate those who treated Him as they did. And yet, amid His
own sufferings, amid His own abasement, Jesus—forgetting self—
prays for those who would, by most standards, be deemed His ene-
mies. What an amazing testimony to God's love! What a powerful
rebuke to our own pride, envy, and hateful attitudes toward others!
Some of history's cruelest and meanest characters have been able to
manifest kindness and love to those who were kind and loving to
them. Indeed, almost anyone can do that. But we see Jesus here living
out a principle that reflects something greater: unconditional love,
even to those who hate Him back. It's hard to imagine a more power-
ful witness to the world of the character of our God and His power to
work in our lives.
This attitude, in a sense, reveals the essence of the Cross. "For if,
when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his
Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life"
(Rom. 5:10).
In other words, despite our attitude toward God, He
poured Himself out for us through the life and suffering of Jesus. And
He did this even while we were sinners, even while we were alienated
and estranged from Him.
With such an example before us, how could we do anything other
than, through God's grace, seek to manifest that same principle our-
selves?
Go back over Luke 23:1-34. In what similar ways have you been
treated unfairly? How did you respond? What does your
response, in contrast to Christ's, tell you about your own per-
sonal need to grow in grace?
81
MONDAY
August 30
Loving Our Enemies
(Matt. 5:44, Luke 6:27-36).
Ghandi (1869-1948) once said, "It is easy enough to be friendly to
one's friends. But to befriend the one who regards himself as your
enemy is the quintessence of true religion."—Non-
Violence in Peace
and War
(New York: New Directions Pub. Corp., 1965), vol. 2, sect.
248. These words sound like an echo from the One who practiced,
even more perfectly than Ghandi, what He preached.
What
basic principle was given by Christ, which must govern our
relationship with those who have turned against us?
Matt. 5:44,
Luke 6:27-36.
Having grown up in Galilee, an area renowned for its political
unrest, and living in a land under occupation by a ruthless foreign
power, Christ knew about civil unrest, war, tyranny, and enemies.
When He began His work and challenged the beliefs and practices
of the religious elite of His days, He inevitably made many bitter
enemies. But He did, indeed, love His enemies, even when He was
brutally arrested, flogged, and nailed to a cross
(Luke 23:34).
Review
the following texts, which spell out in more detail what lov-
ing our enemies implies: Proverbs 24:17, 25:21, Matthew 5:38-42,
Ephesians 4:26.
"We are to love our enemies with the same love that Christ mani-
fested toward His enemies by giving His life to save them. Many
may say, 'This is a hard commandment; for I want to keep just as far
as I can from my enemies.' But acting in accordance with your own
inclination would not be carrying out the principles that our Saviour
has given. 'Do good,' He says, 'to them that hate you, and pray for
them which despitefully use you, and persecute you. . . .' This scrip-
ture illustrates one phase of Christian perfection. While we were yet
enemies of God, Christ gave His life for us. We are to follow His
example."—Ellen G. White,
Medical Ministry,
pp. 253, 254.
We clearly have been told by inspiration to love our enemies.
Now, if someone were to ask you, "How do you love your ene-
mies?" what would you respond?
82
TUESDAY
August 31
Increase Our Faith
For the past two days, we've looked at one of the loftiest principles
in Scripture: love, not for those who love us back but for our enemies.
We have not only Christ's words to that effect but His example, too,
manifested most clearly at the Cross, unquestionably the greatest rev-
elation of that principle ever revealed in the universe.
It's one thing to be told what to do, to know what to do, or even to
want to do it; it's another, however, to do it. Here, perhaps more than
anywhere else in our lives, we need power from above.
Read
Matthew 18:21, 22 and Luke 17:3-5. What question do the dis-
ciples ask Jesus? How does He answer? How do they respond to
His answer?
"Lord, increase our faith." Who of us couldn't relate to their
request? Jesus here points them to a standard they are not used to, a
standard that goes beyond what even many of the most forgiving peo-
ple would aspire to—which is why their response is so sensible. They
want to do this but realize they need something more than what they
have in themselves at the moment to be able to do it. Thus, their
appeal to Jesus for help.
Of course, faith is a gift
(Eph. 2:8),
but there's so much we can do
to receive the gift, to multiply the gift, to strengthen the gift. Here's
where a life of prayer, of devotion, and of meditation upon Christ all
play a crucial role. Only as we surrender ourselves to the Lord, only
as we reckon ourselves dead to self and sin
(Rom. 6:10, 11),
only as
we allow the Lord to work in us
(vs. 4),
will we by God's grace be able
to love our enemies, to pray for them, and to do good to them. Left to
their own, our sinful, vengeful hearts will never allow us to love our
enemies. That's why we need to surrender constantly to the Lord, and
we can do that only by a conscious choice on our part to make such a
surrender.
Who are your enemies? What makes them your enemies? If
you're not loving them, what's the first step you could take in at
least trying to?
83
WEDNESDAY
September 1
The Grace of Forgiving
(Jer 31:31-34, Matt 6:12).
Before we can love our enemies, we must forgive them; and before
we can forgive, we must first learn to accept forgiveness. This is where
the Christian life begins: the certainty of having been accepted by God
and the assurance of forgiveness through faith in our risen Lord.
How
does the Lord's Prayer remind us that we must, in turn, be will-
ing to forgive those who have sinned against us?
Jer. 31:31-34,
Matt. 6:12, Heb. 8:12.
"If we really know Christ as our Savior our hearts are broken and
cannot be hard, and we cannot refuse forgiveness. If you are refusing
forgiveness to anybody I suggest that you have never been for-
given. . . . Pray to God and say, 'Forgive me
0
God as I forgive others
because of what Thou hast done for me. All I ask is that Thou shouldst
forgive me in the same manner; not to the same degree, because all I
do is imperfect. In the same way, as it were, as Thou hast forgiven me,
I am forgiving others. Forgive me as I forgive them because of what the
cross of the Lord Jesus Christ has done in my heart.'
"—D.
Martyn
Lloyd-Jones,
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount
(Grand Rapids,
Mich.: W B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1960), vol. 2, pp. 75, 76.
The author presents a crucial point. To truly forgive, we must under-
stand how much we have been forgiven. Whatever others have done to
us, is it worse than what our sins have done to the Lord? Hardly. The
distance we have to cross in order to forgive others is almost nonex-
istent in contrast to the distance Christ, the eternal God, crossed in
order to forgive us. This is a reality we must constantly keep before us
if we are to forgive and then to love.
How
does the Cross help us understand what our forgiveness cost
God?
Isa. 53:4-6, Phil. 2:5-8.
By dwelling on the Cross, by dwelling on the cost of our forgive-
ness, we can, through God's grace, come to the point where we can
learn to forgive others, even those whom we might deem, and rightly
so, our enemies.
Are you having trouble forgiving, much less loving, an enemy?
Write down your understanding of what Christ suffered at the
Cross in order to forgive you. Pray and meditate over just what
He did in your behalf. See if it will not help open you up toward
those who have earned your anger.
84
THURSDAY
September 2
Why Should We Love Our Enemies?
"A soft answer turneth
away wrath: but grievous words stir up
anger"
(Prov. 15:1).
Why should we love our enemies?
If you answered the above question,
Because God tells us to,
you
have given probably the best answer a Christian can give. We should
love our enemies, because our God has told us to, and if we are
Christians, we obey the Lord.
But the Lord doesn't ask us to do things in a vacuum; there's usu-
ally a practical reason for what He asks, because He loves us and
wants what's for our good.
(See Deut. 10:13.)
Thus, there's an incred-
ible amount of practical, personal good that can come not just to our
enemies but to ourselves by learning to love those whom we deem
enemies. Think of how much different our world would be if we
learned to love our enemies. It would be the closest thing to heaven
we're ever going to find on this earth, at least for now.
Read
Romans 12:20, 21 and 1 Thessalonians 5:15. What is Paul say-
ing there? How do his words fit in with the overall theme of this
week's lesson?
God has done so much for us. As Christians, we have so much
reason to have hope, because we have the promise not only of all
things working for good now but the promise of eternity in a whole
new existence; one filled with love, peace, and prosperity, an exist-
ence we can't even begin to comprehend now. Thus, with such a
promise before us, we, of all people, should be able to rise above the
common hatreds that have poisoned this planet until it's a cauldron
of hate, violence, and revenge. What better way to be salt, to be
light, than to love our enemies, thus bearing a powerful witness to
the world that we have something it desperately needs, and that, of
course, is Jesus.
In your own situation, wherever you live, what changes would
come about if all the Christians you knew, yourself included,
started to love their enemies? Write out a paragraph imagining
the changes.
85
FRIDAY
September 3
Further Study:
Read "The Measure of Forgiveness" in Ellen G.
White's book
Christ's Object Lessons
(pp. 243-251). Note in particu-
lar the following statement:
"Our Lord teaches that matters of difficulty between Christians are
to be settled within the church. They should not be opened before
those who do not fear God. If a Christian is wronged by his brother,
let him not appeal to unbelievers in a court of justice. Let him follow
out the instruction Christ has given. Instead of trying to avenge him-
self, let him seek to save his brother. God will guard the interests of
those who love and fear Him, and with confidence we may commit
our case to Him who judges righteously."—Pages 248, 249.
Discussion Questions:
0
Dwell more on this idea of the practical good that can come
from loving our enemies. Discuss what this world would be like
if this principle were to take hold of the world as quickly and as
firmly as does the desire for revenge.
0
Should the idea that in the end God will bring justice and
punishment to evildoers play a role in helping us learn to love our
enemies? Is it really love if we want God ultimately to punish
them? How does Christ's prayer on the cross help answer that
question?
0 Relatives of a murder or rape victim often say they will never
be able to forgive the person who committed that heinous crime.
How can one help someone in dealing with this very human and
understandable reaction?
Summary:
Many of us have enemies or are regarded by others as
their enemies. It is important to analyze our relationships and ask our-
selves why some relationships have broken down and what can be
done to restore them. As Christians, we are challenged to build posi-
tive relationships, even with those we do not really like. Loving our
enemies does not come naturally. Yet, if we realize how God always
stands ready to forgive us, we should be prepared also to forgive "our
debtors."
86
INSIDES
to
Not-So-Smart Solomon
\Vises Up
by
DENNIS RODRIGUES
As a teenager Solomon was not so smart. He let his peers influence his
decisions and began smoking and taking drugs. He experimented with
every drug he could get, and often he grew weak because he was not eat-
ing. Drugs were all he cared for.
Solomon and his friends were always together, smoking and taking
drugs. They formed a gang and often fought with other teens. Once when
he was high on drugs, he picked up a machete, ready to strike his father.
But a voice shouted to him, "Stop!" and he dropped the machete as if it
were on fire.
"Help me, please!" he cried. His family took him to a mental hospital
for treatment. But the hospital kept him for only a few days.
Solomon's grandmother prayed for him constantly and encouraged him
to attend church with her and let God heal him. Solomon went, and there
he felt God's love calling him. But he continued taking drugs for ten more
years. Then Solomon's grandmother and his father died. The two people
who had tried to help him were gone. Finally Solomon could run away
from God no longer. He gave up and gave his life to God. It had taken him
years to heed the voice of God.
Solomon did not know which church to attend. He tried several before
he visited an Adventist church. There he watched the pastor baptize some-
one, and instantly he knew what he must do. He went to the pastor and
asked for baptism. The pastor reviewed the doctrines with him and bap-
tized Solomon.
Solomon's repentance was real. He serves his church and his God with
joy and faithfulness as a deacon and an elder. Several members of his fam-
ily have given their hearts to Christ because of his witness.
Recently he held his own evangelistic series and led seven people to
Jesus.
He is trained as an accountant, but he has chosen simpler work that puts
him in touch with people he can talk to about God. Solomon shares his
faith on the bus, to strangers in the street. "For years I was compelled to
take drugs; today I am by God compelled to preach," he says. He is eager
to redeem the time he has left for God.
DENNIS RODRIGUES
is a pastor living in Tegulcigalpa, Honduras.
Produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Dept.
Email:gomission@gc.adventist.org
H
7
LESSON 11
*September 4-10
Brothers
and
Sisters
in the Faith
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Week's Study:
Matt. 26:21-25; John
10:16; 17:11; Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor 12:12-27; Eph. 4:3, 13; Phil. 2:2.
Memory Text:
"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do
good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of
believers"
(Galatians 6:10, NIV).
A
s Seventh-day Adventists, we often refer to one another as
"brother" and "sister." When overused, however, such terminol-
ogy can, of course, easily become an empty phrase; and if used
without care, it can, at times, create an awkwardness when nonmembers
are around. Nonetheless, the idea that we are "brothers" and "sisters" in
faith is something we should not lose, even if, at times, like all families,
our relationship with our "brothers" and "sisters" faces hard challenges.
Some of our spiritual siblings have traits we do not admire, and not every
"brother" and "sister" always acts brotherly and sisterly toward each
other. This is a fact of church life; we might as well get used to it.
Thus, as most of us who are church members could understand,
there is ample reason to devote a week on the topic of our relation-
ships with fellow believers, especially those who can try our patience
and mercy to their limits.
The Week at a Glance:
How did Paul describe the diver-
sity amid the unity of the church? Around what should our core
unity rest? What things may cause disunity among us? How was
Christ's treatment of Judas an example in how we should respond
to those among us who treat us badly?
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 11.
88
SUNDAY
September 5
One in Christ
(Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor. 12:12-27).
One of the greatest challenges facing our church is the question of
unity. The church started as a movement among North Americans
with a predominantly Protestant background. It then moved into
Europe and gradually also into other parts of the world, encountering
more and more different belief systems and cultures. Today the
church has a presence in more than two hundred countries and is
growing fast, particularly in the non-Western world. It is not hard to
see how there is a continuous danger of growing apart or even frag-
menting, unless we are determined to stay together. A sustained focus
on unity is, therefore, needed more than ever as we face the chal-
lenges ahead. After all, how can we light the world with the glory of
the three angels' messages if we are busy fighting among ourselves?
What
is one of the favorite images of the apostle Paul to describe the
nature of Christ's church? How does this image underline the
essential aspect of unity?
Rom. 12:4, 5; 1 Cor 12:12-27.
"Paul . . .
makes a very effective parallel with the church collec-
tively being compared to the parts of the human body. The compari-
son was not original with Paul. Many ancient writers had made a sim-
ilar point. . . . The Corinthians would therefore readily understand
Paul's words, 'If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do
not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part
of the body'
(1 Cor. 12:15, NIV). . . .
"The very weakest members . . . are indispensable; and, further-
more, the parts that we think are less honorable, we treat with special
honor. For example, the vital organs (such as the heart, the kidneys,
the lungs, the liver, and the stomach) are not visible, but life cannot
exist without them."—W. Larry Richards,
The Abundant Life Bible
Amplifier-1 Corinthians
(Nampa, Idaho: Pacific Press® Publishing
Association, 1997), pp. 216, 217.
How
did the early church at its very beginning display the kind of
unity God had intended?
Acts 1:14, 2:1, 4:32.
How's your local church doing in terms of the kind of unity
depicted by Paul or as in those
verses
in Acts? If you are divided
in certain areas, what can you yourself do to help bring about a
change?
89
MONDAY
September 6
The Beauty of Diversity
The McDonald's restaurant chain has tens of thousands of restaurants
worldwide. Whether in Pakistan or in the U.S.A., in Hungary or in South
Africa, you will fmd the golden arches. And you can be sure the prod-
uct is always the same. The burgers will always have the same size and
weight, and the milk shakes always come in three tastes and in the same
size cups. Some might call this unity. But this kind of similarity has
nothing to do with real unity; instead, this is uniformity, and there's an
important distinction between the two. In our thinking about the unity of
the church, we must be careful not to confuse uniformity with unity.
What
are some of the characteristics of the unity that the church
ought to display? What is emphasized, and what is not mentioned?
John 10:16; 17:11, 21; Eph. 4:3, 13; Phil. 2:2.
"The secret of true unity in the church and in the family is not
diplomacy, not management, not a superhuman effort to overcome
difficulties—though there will be much of this to do—but union with
Christ."—Ellen G. White,
The Adventist Home,
p. 179.
Ellen White's words, in the context of the texts listed above, are so
crucial to an understanding of unity. We can come from different eth-
nic, national, religious, and economic backgrounds, but at the foot of
the cross, we are all the same: sinners in need of God's grace.
And yet, the hand is not the foot, the foot is not the eye, and the eye
is not the heart; all are different—all have different compositions, dif-
ferent functions, different roles. If the eyes demanded that the heart
be like them, the body would soon be dead; if the heart demanded that
the eyes be like them, the body would be blind.
Thus, because our church is so different—composed of various
national, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, many of which have
clashed over these differences—our unity must be found in something
that, while not denying these differences, transcends them. And for us
as Adventists, that must be Jesus Christ and the common mission He
has given to us. This side of heaven national, ethic, and political dif-
ferences will remain; but as Adventist Christians, with a common
Savior, a common mission, a common message, we should seek,
through God's grace, never to allow these things to disrupt the unity
that God seeks for His church. Admittedly, this isn't always easy. But
if we are called to love our enemies, we certainly should be able to
love fellow church members, should we not?
If any ethnic, national, or political issues are dividing your
church, what can you do to pull people to the Cross, the only
true solution to the problem?
90
TUESDAY
September 7
The Ugliness of Division
(Num. 16:1; 1 Cor 1:11,
12).
During the 2000 General Conference Session, Andrews
University professor George R. Knight gave a thought-provoking
speech about issues he sees as threatening the church. Among
many other things, he said: "[If I were the devil,] I would get as
many Adventists as possible to think tribally, nationally, and
racially. I would make the church one big power struggle, without
regard to mission or efficiency. Having made that statement, I has-
ten to add that there are injustices that need to be rectified and
complex situations that can never be made completely straight. My
plea is that even in the most difficult and unjust situations we need
to behave as born-again sisters and brothers, able to discuss these
things without losing sight of the mission of the church, which
makes the issues meaningful in the first place."—George R.
Knight, "If I Were the Devil,"
Adventist Review
(January 2001),
pp. 14, 15.
There are
numerous causes for disunity in the church. State, in a
few words, what the core issues were in the conflicts mentioned in
the following Bible passages: Numbers 16:1-3; Acts 6:1, 2; 15:1,2;
1 Cor. 1:11-17.
Who is in charge? Who will benefit more than others? And
whose theology is correct? These are the most common causes
(often in some combination) of division in a local church or in
a denomination. The issues themselves can be quite legitimate.
Social groups—and this includes spiritual organizations—need to
determine how matters of leadership and authority must be dealt
with. When an organization consists of various subgroups, there
must be a mechanism to ensure that the interests of these groups
are safeguarded. Real problems are not to be swept under the car-
pet. But those who profess to follow Christ and want to imitate His
nature will choose a strategy in which prayerful dialogue, a desire
to understand one another, patience, tolerance, and love are the key
concepts.
Look at some of the problems listed in the above texts. There
were power struggles, doctrinal differences, and ethnic ten-
sions, even cliques. How little has changed over the centuries.
Again, why must we all come to the Cross and be broken if these
problems are ever to be resolved?
91
WEDNESDAY
September 8
Servanthood Versus Power Play
To be a servant is not our idea of success. We see success in terms
of influence, of power, of the ability to direct and control others. It
seems to be part of human nature to make comparisons between our-
selves and selected others, with the desire to come out on top.
What fundamental principle did Jesus state in response to the
request from the mother of James and John for a place of special
prestige for her sons?
Matt. 20:20-27.
If you study the above verses carefully, you will see clearly the con-
trast between sinful humanity and a perfect God. Here is first a
mother, zealous for the success of her children; then there are the
other disciples, indignant at what they must deem a power play. And
remember, these are all followers of Christ (the mother came wor-
shiping Jesus); yet, greed, jealousy, and selfishness are unveiled.
All this is contrasted to Jesus, who not only spoke the principle of
servanthood but, in a way that our finite minds can barely grasp, lived
it.
Read
Matthew 20:28. What is Jesus talking about? How did He
express this principle in the most amazing manner?
No question, many of the things that divide or threaten to divide the
church would vanish were we to take seriously Christ's words about
being a servant to others. Being great, or chief, doesn't necessarily
have anything to do with office or prestige. Yet, it can have a lot to do
with power, not power as the world sees it but power to change lives,
to bring healing, to reveal to others the love and character of God. And
this comes through influence—of being a good example and of reveal-
ing to others the spirit of Christ. That's true power and greatness.
It's one thing to talk about being a servant; it's another to act
in that role. What are some practical things that you could do
that would express the principle of servanthood in your own
church body? How, for instance, does the foot-washing service
represent this principle?
92
THURSDAY
September 9
Dealing With Difficult People
Have you heard of the 20-80 principle? It suggests that 20 percent of
the people you have to deal with produce 80 percent of the problems.
Ask personnel directors or customer-service directors what their expe-
rience is, and you will find them in agreement. Virtually all pastors will
confess that a relatively small percentage of their parishioners give
them most of their headaches. Yes, unfortunately, not all people are as
lovable and likable as we would prefer them to be (of course, others
might and with some justification say the same about us, as well). Some
people provide a serious challenge to our Christian experience.
Read
Mark 14:43, 44; Luke 22:3-6, 47, 48; John 18:3-7. What did
Judas do to Jesus? Why was his act such an act of treachery?
Few people in history have gone to their grave with such infamy as
Judas Iscariot, who, with his betrayal of Jesus, brought upon himself
eternal ruin. And yet, even knowing what Judas would do, Jesus still
sought to save him.
Read
Matthew 26:21-25. What happened here that showed that
Jesus was still trying to work with Judas?
"But Judas was not yet wholly hardened. Even after he had twice
pledged himself to betray the Saviour, there was opportunity for
repentance. At the Passover supper Jesus proved His divinity by
revealing the traitor's purpose. He tenderly included Judas in the min-
istry to the disciples. But the last appeal of love was unheeded. Then
the case of Judas was decided, and the feet that Jesus had washed
went forth to the betrayer's work."—Ellen G. White,
The Desire of
Ages,
p. 720.
What a powerful testimony to us of how we should treat those who
are, for better or for worse, among us. Indeed, who hasn't experienced
personally how, sometimes, the most painful struggles we have are
not with those whom we would deem our enemies but those whom we
would deem otherwise our "brothers" and "sisters"? We have here an
example from Jesus how we should respond.
Have you been betrayed by a Judas? If so, how can you, through
the grace of Christ, respond as Christ did?
93
FRIDAY
September 10
Further Study:
Read the chapter "Who Is the Greatest" in Ellen
G. White,
The Desire of Ages,
pp. 432-442.
"In these first disciples was presented marked diversity. They were
to be the world's teachers, and they represented widely varied types of
character. In order successfully to carry forward the work to which
they had been called, these men, differing in natural characteristics
and in habits of life, needed to come into unity of feeling, thought,
and action. This unity it was Christ's object to secure. To this end He
sought to bring them into unity with Himself. The burden of His labor
for them is expressed in His prayer to His Father, 'That they all may
be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may
be one in Us;' that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me, and
hast loved them, as Thou hast loved Me.' John 17:21, 23. His constant
prayer for them was that they might be sanctified through the truth;
and He prayed with assurance, knowing that an Almighty decree had
been given before the world was made. He knew that the gospel of the
kingdom would be preached to all nations for a witness; He knew that
truth armed with the omnipotence of the Holy Spirit would conquer
in the battle with evil, and that the bloodstained banner would one day
wave triumphantly over His followers."—Ellen G. White,
The Acts of
the Apostles,
pp. 20, 21.
Discussion Questions:
0
How does one determine what belongs to the unchangeable
core of our beliefs in contrast to what are mere cultural expres-
sions and can, therefore, be changed to fit the context of various
groups? Why, for the sake of unity, must we be able to distinguish
between the two concepts?
Imagine that your local church has a membership of around
one hundred. Most members are pleasant and easy to get along
with. But a few are capable of destroying the atmosphere. They
are very opinionated and have very strong convictions about
what should and should not be done during a divine service. This
situation clearly hampers the growth of the church. What would
you advise?
Summary:
The church must be characterized by unity rather than
uniformity. There is beauty and richness in diversity as long as there
is unity in Christ. Only as we all learn to surrender at the Cross can
we have the kind of unity that Christ seeks for His people.
94
INSIDES
tory
The Reverend Father
Finds
His Home
by
JH
J
.
H
.
ZACHARY
Jeofelo was determined to have a better life than his parents, who had to
work hard to provide for their five children. He joined a Catholic youth
group in high school and eventually began assisting the priest at Mass. The
priest noticed his faithful work and urged Jeofelo to consider studying to
become a priest. Jeofelo took a test to qualify to study for the priesthood,
and he passed. He enrolled in a program to prepare him to study theology
at a university.
Jeofelo's parents were as proud as he was when at last he was ordained
as a priest. Jeofelo liked his new title, Reverend Father. He served as priest
in several congregations.
One day he went to the optometrist for new glasses. An attractive young
woman waited on him. Jeofelo was impressed with her professionalism
and kindness and decided to get to know her better. He learned that she
was a Seventh-day Adventist.
Joefelo resigned his position and joined a denomination in which he
could marry and still serve as a Reverend Father.
Jeofelo dated the young optometrist and soon proposed marriage. He
promised her that there would be no arguments over religion in their
home, that she could raise their children as Adventists. She agreed.
One day while riding his motorcycle, Jeofelo was seriously injured in an
accident. He spent weeks in the hospital and two months at home in a
wheelchair. With nothing else to do, he picked up a book that a friend had
given him and began reading it. It was called
From Sabbath to Sunday.
Jeofelo was amazed to learn that Saturday was indeed the Sabbath of the
Lord. But he refused to follow what he now knew to be the truth. He had
worked too hard to earn the "Reverend Father" title to give it up over a
theological point.
Within a year Jeofelo was involved in another accident, and soon after,
another. Jeofelo felt that God was trying to get his attention. He opened
his Bible and read Matthew 16:26, "For what profit is it to a man if he
gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in
exchange for his soul?" (NKJV).
Jeofelo could put off his decision no longer. He asked his wife to call
her pastor and arrange for Bible studies. Within a few weeks the family
was united in the Adventist faith.
Jeofelo gladly laid aside his treasured title and is studying at the
Adventist seminary in the Philippines to become a Bible teacher.
J. H. ZACHARY is coordinator of international evangelism for
The Quiet Hour.
Produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Dept.
Email:gomission@gc.adventist.org
95
LESSON
12
*September //-/7
Supporting Our
Leaders
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Week's Study:
Ps. 51:3, 4, 10; 1 Pet. 2:9;
Eph. 1:22, 23; Col 1:18.
Memory Text:
"Speaking the truth in love, we will in all things
grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ"
(Ephesians 4: 15,
NIV).
T
o be a leader in the church is not always easy. In fact, we live in
a general climate in which leadership is suspect. Leadership, in
general, is often almost synonymous with
politics,
and
politics
usually has connotations of power, self-interest, and even dishonesty
or corruption. Church leadership is not totally immune to those accu-
sations either.
Thus, more than ever, the church needs good leaders at all levels,
and we must use the best possible processcs to select those leaders.
And while we must hold them accountable for the decisions that they
make while in power, it's even more important that we seek to support
them in all ways possible. We owe that to them and to God.
This week we look at the important topic of how, as Christians, we
should relate to our church leaders.
The Week at a Glance:
Does the idea that we are all
equal before God mean that there's no need for church leader-
ship? In what ways are we all unequal? Who is the Head of the
church? What does the Bible teach about the necessity of church
leaders?
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 18.
96
SUNDAY
September 12
All Are Equal
(1 Pet. 2:9).
One of the great rediscoveries of the sixteenth-century Reformation
was that all people have the same standing before God. We do not
need other human beings as our mediators. We all have the same
direct access to our heavenly Father
(Heb. 10:19).
How
is the fundamental equality in status before God underlined by
the apostle Peter?
I Pet. 2:9; see also Exod. 19:6.
The idea of a priesthood of all believers was one of the great con-
cerns of the Protestant Reformers. The concept recognizes that every
church member has a spiritual ministry to perform. The ordained min-
istry does not have a more privileged form of service than do others
in the church body. The clergy merely performs a different service.
All members have spiritual gifts, and all have important contributions
to make. As a church, it's important not to forget this principle.
What
other assurance is given in the Holy Scriptures that affirms our
equal standing before God?
Gal. 3:28.
What is this text saying?
"No distinction on account of nationality, race, or caste, is recog-
nized by God. He is the Maker of all mankind. All men are of one
family by creation, and all are one through redemption. Christ came
to demolish every wall of partition, to throw open every compartment
of the temple, that every soul may have free access to God. His love
is so broad, so deep, so full, that it penetrates everywhere. It lifts out
of Satan's circle the poor souls who have been deluded by his decep-
tions. It places them within reach of the throne of God, the throne
encircled by the rainbow of promise.
"In Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free. All are
brought nigh by His precious blood."—Ellen G. White,
Christ's Object
Lessons,
p. 386.
Dwell on the thoughts for today's study. Why is this principle so
important for Christians to understand? How can it be a cure
for one of the greatest and most dangerous of all sins: spiritual
pride? What practical changes would you see in your own
church were this principle put into practice?
97
MONDAY
September 13
We Have Different Roles
What a paradox: We are all equal and, yet, we are not. Though we
all have the same status before God, we do not all function in the same
role. It is God's design that there is order, and that the church—as a
spiritual organization—has leadership. Strong support for the princi-
ple of "the priesthood of all believers" does not mean that leadership
arrangements are unnecessary. From the earliest days we have evi-
dence of God instituting leaders for His people.
How do the following texts establish the legitimacy of leadership
among the people of God, in Old Testament as well as in New
Testament times?
1.
Moses
Exodus 3
2.
Assistance for Moses
Exod. 18:21-27
3.
Deborah
Judg. 4:4
4.
David
1 Sam. 16:1-13
5.
The twelve disciples, or apostles
Mark 3:13-19
6.
Stephen and the other deacons
Acts 6:1-7
7.
Elders
Titus 1:5
Though the Bible does not prescribe a detailed organizational
model that is to be implemented in all times, God wants His
people to do things in an orderly manner. Organization and
leadership are not only legitimate but necessary, as is choosing
the right kind of leadership.
98
TUESDAY
September 14
Even Saints Are Not Perfect
(Ps. 51:3, 4, 10).
Reading biographies of famous missionaries and great religious
leaders can be extremely inspiring. Often one wonders: Would I have
been able to demonstrate that same commitment? Would I have been
able to persevere under such adverse circumstances? Would I have
had the faith and spiritual strength to help and direct people? When
we think of the history of our own church and of the energy, courage,
and determination of many of the Adventist pioneers, we cannot help
being impressed and inspired.
Take a good look
at Hebrews 11 and list some of the great
heroes of faith who, "by faith," were sure of what they hoped for
and persevered in their leadership role, often despite countless
challenges. What was the secret of their success?
The
Bible presents us with inspiring examples of faith but also
informs us, in all honesty, that even the greatest leaders of ancient
times were not perfect. It is not difficult to find examples of how
great leaders made serious mistakes. Sometimes the mistakes were
such that they could not be maintained in their role. But in many
cases, God was willing to continue working through them.
Go back
again through Hebrews 11. Pick out some of those men-
tioned there who were, in one capacity or another, in leadership
roles. What mistakes did these great people of faith make, despite
their calling before God? What message do their mistakes have
for us concerning how we should view our leaders?
Leaders, as the rest of us, are sinners in need of grace, forgiveness,
counsel, and encouragement. At the same time, to be a leader is a
great privilege, and with privilege comes responsibility. Though our
leaders aren't perfect, they are still leaders, and in that role they
should be expected to act accordingly.
Should church leaders be expected to adhere to a higher moral
and spiritual standard than someone not in that role? If so, why
so? If not, why not?
99
WEDNESDAY
September 15
Supporting Our Leaders
We owe it to our leaders to support them in whatever way we can.
As Aaron and Hur supported Moses and helped him to reach out to
heaven, we have the sacred duty to help our leaders in their ministry
(Exod. 17:12).
What
may those who are full-time employed in the gospel ministry
expect from the members of the church?
Matt. 10:9, 10; Rom.
16:23.
God has arranged for a system of support for those who serve Him
as full-time ministers so that their material needs are provided for as
they preach the gospel and nurture the church. If all church members
gave according to the plan that God instituted, there would be more
than sufficient means to meet the needs of many more church workers.
What
other form of support for our pastors and other leaders is just
as essential as material support?
Eph. 6:18, 19; 2 Thess. 3:1.
"Leaders know the importance of support. It comes in many differ-
ent forms—regular prayer, encouragement through calls, conversa-
tions, and notes, interaction on ideas and communicating what is
going on in the organization. Often it is as simple and straightforward
as asking the leader, 'What can I do to help you?' "—Leith Anderson,
A Church for the Twenty-First Century
(Minneapolis, Minn.: Bethany
House Publishers, 1992), pp. 230, 231.
While support for leaders shouldn't be blind—that is, we do
whatever they say we should do, no questions asked—true support
doesn't mean we support them only when we absolutely agree with
everything they do. Sometimes leaders might make a decision that
someone disagrees with. Here, too, out of respect for the position
the person is in, we should as
much as possible
seek to work with
those decisions.
How's your attitude toward your church leaders? Are you show-
ing them the mercy Christ has shown you? What changes might
you need to make in relating to them?
100
THURSDAY
September 16
Christ Is Our Leader
(Eph. 4:15, 2:20, 1 Pet. 2:25).
Read the following texts. What are they all saying about Christ
and His church?
Eph. 1:22, 23
Eph. 4:15
Col. 1:18
As we have seen this week, though we are all equal in the sight of
God, this fundamental equality does not imply that there should not
be any leaders, or even a
hierarchy
of leadership, among us. The bib-
lical model teaches that there is, indeed, a structure, and that the
church does have human leaders at various levels.
At the same time, however, we (and our selected leadership) must
remember that Christ is the head of the church and that He alone is
the Source of its authority. Not only is Christ the Head of each per-
son, He is the Head of the church, in a corporate sense. As individu-
als, and even more so as leaders, we can be faithful to our calling only
to the degree that we are faithful to Christ. Only as we submit to Him
in faith, repentance, and obedience can we fulfill whatever role He
deems for us in His church.
"It is Christ who makes the church important, not the other way
around. As his body, the church derives its significance from him. The
church is what it is because of who Jesus is, not because of who its
members are.
"The symbol of the body also suggests subordination. As Christ's
body, the church is subject to his authority. He is 'the head over all
things for the church' (Eph. 1:22). Recognizing that Christ's authority
in the church is supreme prevents us from exaggerating the impor-
tance of any church official or organizational structure. The church
needs organization, of course, but no organization should obscure
Christ's authority."—Richard Rice,
The Reign of God
(Berrien
Springs, Mich.: Andrews University Press, 1985), p. 190.
How can those who lead out in the local church or occupy some
position of leadership in the conference or some other organi-
zational unit ensure that they never lose sight of the fact that
Christ is the ultimate Leader of the church? If you could give
some practical advice to any of our leaders on what's the surest
way to stay connected to Christ and allow Him to lead the
church through them, what would you say?
101
FRIDAY
September 17
Further Study:
"Since His ascension Christ has carried forward
His work on the earth by chosen ambassadors, through whom He
speaks to the children of men and ministers to their needs. The great
Head of the church superintends His work through the instrumental-
ity of men ordained by God to act as His representatives."—Ellen G.
White,
The Acts of the Apostles,
p. 360.
"There have ever been in the church those who are constantly
inclined toward individual independence. They seem unable to realize
that independence of spirit is liable to lead the human agent to have
too much confidence in himself and to trust in his own judgment
rather than to respect the counsel and highly esteem the judgment of
his brethren, especially of those in the offices that God has appointed
for the leadership of His people. God has invested His church with
special authority and power which no one can be justified in disre-
garding and despising, for he who does this despises the voice of
God."—Pages 163, 164.
Discussion Questions:
O
Though it's important to work with the leadership of our
church, at what point, if ever, should a person stand up and
openly challenge leadership? Is this ever the correct Christian
response? If you answer Yes, what biblical or historical prece-
dents can you cite? If you answer No, defend your position.
O
Sometimes, when our leaders fall, we tend to be harder on
them than on others who might make the same mistakes. Why do
you think that is
so?
Should it be so?
Summary:
On
the one hand, we must never lose sight of the fact that
we are all, truly and fully, equals before God. Yet, it is God's purpose
that not all have the same role. Some have a special calling to be lead-
ers, of different kinds and at different levels. Leaders must be held
accountable, but we must not expect them to be perfect. We owe our
leaders our wholehearted support, in particular in our prayers. But
both the
followers
and the
leaders
must remember always that Christ
is the Leader of His church.
102
INSIDE
to
Left
for
Dead
by
CHARLOTTE ISHKANIAN
On June 24, 2002, a runaway train crashed in Tanzania, killing hundreds
of men, women, and children. On that train were 350 Adventists, mostly
women returning home from a Women's Ministries meeting. Some 54
Adventists, mostly women, were killed.
When the train's brakes failed, the train rolled backward, reaching
speeds of 160 miles (240 km) an hour. The two pastors aboard went from
car to car comforting and encouraging the women, who prayed and sang
during the 20-minute terror ride before the train crashed. One of these pas-
tors lost his life; the other lost his arm.
Joyce Ager was one of the passengers. Shortly after the crash, Valentina,
Joyce's sister, learned that Joyce had died in the wreck.
Valentina traveled to the rural crash site to identify her sister's body. She
searched the large stadium, where most of the bodies had been laid, but
she did not find her sister. Hopeful, she went to the hospital and searched
for Joyce's name on a list of patients, but she found nothing. Sadly, grimly,
she walked to a smaller makeshift morgue to search for her sister among
the dead.
The bodies were piled on top of one another until space could be made
for them in the stadium morgue. Valentina began searching through the
bodies for the face she hoped she would not see. As she walked among the
bodies, she saw a familiar face. She touched her and found her body
warm. She felt for a pulse. Yes, she was still alive!
She shouted and ran to find a doctor. "Come, come! My sister is in the
morgue, but she's still alive!" Joyce was carried to the hospital. She was
unconscious and suffered from multiple fractures, but she was alive.
Joyce woke up six days later and was transferred to a hospital in the city
of Dar es Salaam. She suffered some memory loss caused by a fractured
skull, and it was several weeks before she could recognize those she loved.
Joyce continues on her long road to recovery, but she thanks God and
her sister for saving her life. She is eager to be well enough to serve Him
as He wishes.
No one knows why one person died and another lived in that terrible
crash. But the Adventists most deeply affected by this tragic wreck hope
that through their suffering God will reveal Himself to those who need to
know Him.
CH:4121,077T ISHKANIAN
is editor of Mission.
Produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Dept.
Email:gomission@gc.adventist.org
1 03
LESSON
1
3
*September 18-24
Embracing
the
World
SABBATH AFTERNOON
Read for This Week's Study:
Matt. 13:33; 25:31-46;
John 17:15-17; 2 Cor. 5:19, 20; Heb. 2:9; 1 John 4:14.
Memory Text:"
'My prayer is not that you take them out of
the world but that you protect them from the evil one.... As you
sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world' "
(John
17:15-18, NIV).
T
hose who have studied the history of the Seventh-day Adventist
Church know that it took a while before the church began to
understand the immensity of the challenge God had given her.
At first, the small band of disappointed Advent believers saw only a
very limited task: to encourage fellow Adventists after 1844.
Gradually, however, they saw that God had given them a much greater
assignment. They sought a wider audience and began to spread their
message to Protestant America. In 1874 the horizon widened as the
first official missionary left for Europe. By the year 1900 Adventism
had gained a small foothold in many parts of the world and was on its
way to what it is today: a truly global movement.
Thus the question for us is this: How are we, as Adventist
Christians, to relate to the world at large?
The Week at a Glance:
What kind
of image should
we
present to the world? How can we be in the world but not of it?
What does the universality of Christ's death tell us about the uni-
versality of our own mission to the world?
*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 25.
104
SUNDAY
September 19
Representing the King
(Matt. 13:33, 2 Cor 5:20).
What
images did Paul use to point out to the church members in
Corinth that they are representatives of God?
2 Cor. 2:15-17
2 Cor 3:1-3
2 Cor 5:20
Our life should be such that it calls people to a decision, for or
against the principles we espouse. For those who reject the Christ
we serve, our witness will be an irritant or even a "smell of death"
(2 Cor. 2:16, NIV).
But for those who find Christ through us, we are
a "fragrance of life"
(vs. 16, NIV)!
We also are pictured as ambassadors. Ambassadors are a small but
important class of people. They go wherever they are sent to represent
their government. Often they must venture into a culture that differs
greatly from their own. Their work demands tact and diplomacy, as
well as frankness and courage. Their duty is to guard jealously the
interests and the reputations of their home country. What a fitting
metaphor for those who represent the kingdom of heaven!
What
other image is used in the Bible to illustrate the positive influ-
ence Christians are expected to have in society?
Matt. 13:33.
And
what does it mean?
Leaven
is, in general, a symbol for evil influences, carrying infection.
In this sense Jesus used it when He spoke of the leaven of the Pharisees
(Mark 8:15 and parallels).
It also is used by analogy as a symbol for a
wholesome influence, which spreads out, as well. The working of
leaven in dough is not a slow, imperceptible process. At first, it is true,
the leaven is
hidden,
and nothing appears to happen, but then the whole
mass begins to swell and bubble as fermentation advances.
The moment you identify yourself as a Christian, you are, for
better or for worse, representing your Lord. In other words,
whether you are
good, bad,
or
indifferent,
you are still repre-
senting the Lord to those around you. You can never be neutral.
Think about those whom you are around. What kind of influ-
ence are you projecting? Where and how can you improve?
105
MONDAY
September 20
"In the World" but Not "of the
World"
(John 17.15-17).
For many Christians, the church is like a club—strictly for mem-
bers! Although they will say that they believe in witness and evangel-
ism and want their church to grow, their deeds and their attitude speak
a different language!
How
are we to relate to the world? Are we to embrace the world and
all that it offers? Are we to shun the world? Or is there another
option?
See John 17:15-17.
What principles is Jesus expressing?
If we want to be true followers of Christ, we will have to mix with
the people around us. We must not spend all our time in pious medi-
tation, thanking God that we differ from all those
worldly
people
around us. The opposite is true. While we must be
holy—as
in being
radically different in the way we live—we must not keep our distance
from those who must also hear the good news. We are told to " 'Go
into all the world' "
(Mark 16:15, NIV)
and, like Paul, identify with
the people with whom we come in contact
(1 Cor 9:19-23).
Why
did God intervene when, after the Flood, the inhabitants of the
world decided to build an enormous fortress that would house
them all?
Gen. 11:4, 7.
The descendants of Noah and his sons did not want to move away
from where they lived. They wanted to stay together. If ever there was
a group of people with a fortress mentality, we find them in Genesis
11. But God intervened. He did not agree with this fortress mentality
then, and He doesn't now.
"Babel plays itself out over and over again in the lives of congre-
gations. A new church is formed with excitement, energy and vision.
As the years pass, however, the church functions less to introduce
Jesus Christ to nonbelievers than to provide a safe, secure and famil-
iar environment to those who already believe and belong."—Stephen
A. Rhodes,
Where the Nations Meet
(Downers Grove, Ill.:
InterVarsity Press, 1998), pp. 25, 26.
Go back and read again John 17:15-17. How does that apply in
your own personal situation? Are you really not "of the world"?
If you answer Yes, what justification can you give for that
answer? How can one be truly "not of this world"?
106
TUESDAY
September 21
"Religion in Overalls"
(Matt. 25:31-46).
The title of today's study is borrowed from that of a book by
William G. Johnsson in which the author takes a close look at the
meaning of the Gospel of Matthew. Johnsson writes:
"In an age that proclaims on its T-shirts, 'Only Believe' and 'I love
you!' . . . Matthew insists that practice balances one's profession, that
faith and love put on overalls and get their hands dirty out where the
people are—in jail, in the slums, in the poorhouse, in the charity
ward."—William G. Johnsson,
Religion in Overalls
(Nashville, Tenn.:
Southern Publishing Association, 1977), p. 22.
What
are the following texts telling us about how
we are to relate to
the world around us?
Matt. 25:31-46
Luke 1:52, 53
The question is not whether followers of Christ should focus on
preaching or helping the needy. It is not a matter of either/or but of
and/and. Christians share in the universal responsibility of helping fel-
low human beings who face particular challenges: hunger, thirst, illit-
eracy, poverty, poor health conditions, imprisonment, discrimination,
etc. Christ is our role model. He ministered to all aspects of our human
condition—the spiritual, as well as the emotional and the physical. The
early church clearly did not forget its social responsibility, and neither
should we. Community-service activities, religious-liberty advocacy,
educational programs, prison ministries, and ADRA are just a few of
the avenues through which we can minister to people.
"Pure and undefiled religion is not a sentiment, but the doing of
works of mercy and love."—Ellen G. White,
Welfare Ministry,
p. 38.
Serving others in these capacities, however, demands self-denial,
just as being a Christian does. Only as we learn to surrender and die
at the foot of the Cross will we be in a position to minister to others
in the same way that Christ did.
What are you doing for the poor, the needy, and the afflicted in
your community? If the next time you see some of them and
think of Christ's words, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one
of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me"
(Matt.
25:40),
why wouldn't it be so easy just to walk away and ignore
them?
107
WEDNESDAY
September 22
The Power of Prayer
Intercessory prayer is a reservoir of power that should be tapped to
an even larger extent than it is today. Prayer for ourselves, for our own
spiritual and material needs, is essential. But prayer for others—for
the pastors, literature evangelists and missionaries, the church's
administrators, for the leaders of our countries and, yes, for the
world—should rank high on our list of priorities.
If
someone
were to ask you to compose a 30-second prayer for the
world, what would you pray, and why?
Praying for fellow human beings, pleading with God on behalf of
others, is a duty and a privilege for every Christian. And, though we
can never be sure when and in what manner God will answer our
prayers, there is no doubt that they do have effect. The apostle James
states it clearly: "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effec-
tive"
(5:16, NIV).
There
are countless examples in Scripture of men and women who
prayed for others. Read the following texts:
Gen. 20:7; Num. 11:1,
2; 1 Sam. 12:19, 23; 1 Kings 13:6-9; Ps. 122:6; Matt. 5:44; Col. 1:9;
1 Thess. 5:25; 2 Thess. 3:1.
What do they tell us about the need to
pray for others?
"Our intercessory prayers express a sense of solidarity with other
human beings. We are embedded in the great fabric of humanity. What
happens to others inevitably involves us, and what we do affects them,
too. Furthermore, God has ways of working in the world that we can-
not understand."—Richard
Rice, The Reign of God,
p. 297.
In your experience, what impact has prayer had in your own
life? How has it changed you? How have your prayers, as far as
you can tell, impacted others? What evidence, if any, do you
have that prayer does make a difference?
108
THURSDAY
September 23
The Cross and the World
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus gives
us
our calling as a church. Notice it
is a worldwide calling. We are to go to all nations with the message
of salvation found in Jesus Christ. We see this same basic calling,
only in a specific end-time context, in the first angel's message
(Rev.
14:6, 7).
Thus, God's church is to impact the whole world. And that makes
perfect sense, because Christ's mission was for the whole world.
Look up these texts. What are they all saying about the universality
of what Christ has done at the Cross?
Isa. 53:6, 2 Cor 5:19, Heb.
2:9, I John 2:2, 4:14.
The point is simple: Christ's death covered every human being who
ever lived. It was complete for the whole world. Thus, the whole
world needs to know about Jesus and what He has done for them.
"But the atonement for a lost world was to be full, abundant, and
complete. Christ's offering was exceedingly abundant to reach every
soul that God had created. It could not be restricted so as not to
exceed the number who would accept the great Gift. All men are not
saved; yet the plan of redemption is not a waste because it does not
accomplish all that its liberality has provided for. There must be
enough and to spare."—Ellen G. White,
The Desire ofAges, pp. 565,
566.
We can't be true followers of Christ unless we are, in whatever
capacity, seeking to let the world know about what Christ has done for
it. Thus, we must not flee the world but must engage the world and
make a difference by the way we live and interact with people and by
the way in which we respond to the needs of fellow human beings, far
and near. This, more than any other way, will open people up to hear
what we have to say about the God who not only has created all of us
but who has paid for all our sins. Even those living in abject igno-
rance of Christ have had their sins paid for at the Cross, just as much
as ours were paid for there. Thus, these people need to know what we
know; and how can they ever learn if we—who do know about the
Cross—don't tell them? Hence, our mission to the world.
Not everyone, of course, is in a position to minister directly to
those in others lands. What, though, can you, either as an indi-
vidual or through your church, do to have a part in our world-
wide calling?
109
FRIDAY
September 24
Further Study:
"The suffering and destitute of all classes are our
neighbors, and when their wants are brought to our knowledge it is our
duty to relieve them as far as possible. A principle is brought out in
this parable [of the good Samaritan] that it would be well for the fol-
lowers of Christ to adopt. First meet the temporal necessities of the
needy and relieve their physical wants and sufferings, and you will
then find an open avenue to the heart."—Ellen G. White,
Welfare
Ministry,
p. 118.
"Every provision has been made for the salvation of the fallen race.
All power has been given to Him who offered himself as a sacrifice
for the redemption of every son and daughter of Adam. 'As many as
received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on His name.' "—Ellen G. White,
Review and
Herald,
Jan. 7, 1902.
Discussion Questions:
0
We are told we are "in the world" and that we must identify
with those we want to reach. We must understand how they think
and must speak their
language.
How are we able to do this with-
out being impacted in a negative way by some of the negative
things they do?
CO However important it is to meet the temporal needs of those in
the world, we must also remember that meeting the needs of the
world isn't the end but a means to an end. What is that end? How
can we avoid the danger of forgetting what our true purpose here
is?
Summary:
Though we are "not of the world," we should be very
much "in the world," making a difference and giving a better taste to
society. True Christianity is not just a matter of having correct doc-
trine or calling people to a faith in God. It also is a ministry to the poor
and disenfranchised. In addition, we have the responsibility of praying
for others, in the church and out in the world. Christ's death covered
the whole world; our ministry must, then, be just as inclusive.
110
INSIDE t0
Searching for
Meaning
by
N
YAMDAVAA
Nyamdavaa lives in Mongolia. He attended a military school, where he
learned that the strongest prevail. He worked hard to strengthen his body
and focus his mind.
After completing his training in military school, he joined some friends
to start a small business. But his life was not going as he wished. One day
he realized that he felt empty, with no sense of purpose or meaning in life.
If there were no meaning to life, what was the difference? Why not just die?
Nyamdavaa had read the Christian Bible occasionally, and he sensed
that it held the key to meaning in life. He began searching it for answers.
An Adventist friend invited Nyamdavaa to church, and he went. There he
found meaningful worship and a group of genuinely happy people.
He ended his relationship with his old friends who seemed to want noth-
ing but to have a good time drinking. He no longer wanted to drink and
spent much time alone, studying the Bible. His family thought he was
crazy, for he spent all his time reading and praying. Often he did not eat;
food was not important when he was searching for God.
At one point Nyamdavaa became sick. He was too weak to get out of
bed. For two weeks he remained in bed, praying and reading the Bible. His
prayer became, "Take my life, God, and use me for Your service. Just use
me." He regained his health and was baptized a few months later.
Nyamdavaa was invited to study at the 1000 Missionary Movement in
the Philippines. During his three months there, he experienced several
miracles of protection and providence. One exercise required him to swim
across a river, but Nyamdavaa could not swim. He prayed for God's pro-
tection as he jumped into the water. He felt a hand holding him up, and he
made it across.
He returned to Mongolia to start a new church in a large city in north-
ern Mongolia. One Friday the apartment building in which he and his roo-
mate lived had no water. On Sabbath the water returned only to their apart-
ment. When his neighbors learned that they had water, they asked the two
young men for some. This provided an excellent opportunity to meet their
neighbors and share their faith and water with them.
Nyamdavaa and his roomate invited young people to come to their
apartment for Bible stories and songs. These children invited more chil-
dren and their parents. Their group has grown, and in the first year in this
city, 45 people were baptized.
NYAMDAVAA
continues to work in this city, developing the interests they have found there.
He would like to become a trained pastor or Bible worker.
Produced by the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Dept.
Email:gomission@gc.adventist.org
I I 1
2004
Bible Study Guide
for
the
Fourth Quarter
One of the great purposes of the Bible is to show us not only what
our ends are but how we can reach those ends. Next quarter's study
of the book of Daniel, written by Gerhard Pfandl, fulfills a unique
role in helping us do just that. In it are impressive prophecies that,
perhaps better than anywhere else in Scripture, help establish a firm
and rational foundation for our faith in the One who, through the
work of Jesus Christ, has assured us our end: eternal life in a new cre-
ation (Isa. 66:22).
Lesson 1: "To Eat or Not to Eat—That
Is the Question"
THE WEEK AT A GLANCE:
SUNDAY: A Tale of Two Cities: Babylon and Jerusalem
(Dan. 1:1).
MONDAY: The Innocent and the Guilty
(Dan. 1:2-7).
TUESDAY: Daniel's Determination
(Dan. 1:8).
WEDNESDAY: The Test
(Dan. 1:9-16).
THURSDAY: The Reward
(Dan. 1:17-20).
MEMORY TEXT:
Psalm 119:105
SABBATH GEMS:
What do Babylon and Jerusalem symbolize?
What caused the demise of Jerusalem? Why did innocent people have
to suffer in the onslaught? Why didn't Daniel eat the king's food?
Lesson 2:
Nebuchadnezzar's Image
THE WEEK AT A GLANCE:
SUNDAY: Nebuchadnezzar's Dilemma
(Dan. 2:1-13).
MONDAY: Daniel's Prayer Meetings
(Dan. 2:14-23).
TUESDAY: Daniel's Testimony
(Dan. 2:24-30).
WEDNESDAY: The Image and Its Interpretation
(Dan. 2:28-45).
THURSDAY: Daniel's Promotion
(Dan. 2:46).
MEMORY TEXT:
Daniel 2:21
SABBATH GEM:
Using around one hundred-eighty Hebrew
words, Daniel describes the course of history in advance and thereby
provides comfort to God's people. This gives us the assurance that
when the great empires of the world have run their course, God's
kingdom, an everlasting kingdom, will follow and remain forever.
Lessons for the Visually Impaired
The regular Adult Sabbath School
Bible Study Guide is available free each month in braille and on audiocassette to
sight-impaired and physically handicapped persons who cannot read normal ink
print. This includes individuals who, because of arthritis, multiple sclerosis, paralysis,
accident, and so forth, cannot hold or focus on normal ink-print publications. Contact
Christian Record Services, Box 68506-0097.
112
The companion
book to the
Adult Bible
Study Guide
for third
quarter, 2004
RELIGION
in
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Relationships mean
everything to God.
And if our religion is
to have any meaning
at all, the relationships
we have with our
spouses, parents,
neighbors, and even enemies must mean everything to
us. This book shows how our faith impacts our relation-
ship to others, and how we can strengthen, even restore,
those relationships if they have broken down.
Several authors join forces to provide a view of the
family of God that is at once refreshing and shocking.
Going beyond ideology, they provide practical examples
of how to live as citizens of God's kingdom here on
planet Earth.
0-8163-2028-4. Paperback.
US$9.99, Can$14.99.
Pacific Press®.
Where the Word is Life.
© 2004 Prices subject to change. 110/45590
Available at your local ABC, 1-800-765-6955.
Or read a sample chapter first and order online:
www.AdventistBookCenter.com
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Mission Projects
1
Classroom and men's dormitory, Lowry College
2 Dining hall. Flaiz College
3 Library, Northeast College
4 Dormitories for Adventist schools in newly
entered areas. India
5 Up to 50 chapels for congregations, India
Nicobar
Islands '
Churches Companies Membership Population
Union
Southern Asia
viummo
East-Central India Union
793
1,417
375,101
119,786,922
South-Central India Union
178
243
52,078
56,634,316
Southwest India Union
212
127
31,310
33,766,875
Northeast India
150
304
36,206
40,392,021
Northern India
231
1,212
85,684
597,759,177
Southeast India Union
261
582
74,751
66,358.321
Western India
124
294
64,643
140,624,075
Attached Fields:
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
1
2
198
427,429
Mumbai Metro
10
52
6,469
12,822,864
Nepal
9
21
1,496
25,164,000
Bhutan
945,000
Maldives
285,000
Totals June 30, 2003
1.969
4.254
727,936
1,094,966,000
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